British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea warns that a Budget increase to the tax on profits from fixed-odds gaming machines may have a “devastating” impact on horse racing. He says the sport’s governing body will urgently engage with the government to reduce the effects after the chancellor raised the duty on machine gaming profits in betting shops from 20% to 25%.
Across outlets, the focus stays on how higher Machine Games Duty could affect betting shops and, in turn, the racing industry. Dunshea frames the change as a “clear risk” that could lead to the closure of “hundreds, if not thousands” of betting shops nationwide. While most reporting describes the duty increase and its predicted consequences, the tone and emphasis vary slightly: some highlight the warning directly, while others underline the need for talks with government.
Overall, the outlets largely agree on the central claim—Dunshea’s warning that the tax rise could damage the future of the sport—without presenting contrasting views or additional evidence in the provided summaries.
