Julia Buckley, MP for Shrewsbury, has co-signed a letter with 101 other MPs urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to implement significant reforms to online gambling taxation in the upcoming autumn Budget. They propose a targeted levy on harmful online gambling products, excluding the National Lottery, bingo, and horse racing, with the revenue ringfenced to fund the removal of the two-child benefit cap and reduce child poverty. The letter highlights that online gambling companies are currently lightly taxed despite high profitability and cites a report suggesting raising Remote Gaming Duty to 50% and General Betting Duty to 30%, potentially generating up to £2.9 billion in the first year.

The MPs emphasize protecting the British horseracing sector through a differentiated tax approach due to its cultural significance and economic contribution, supporting around 85,000 jobs. They warn that increasing taxes on horseracing could push consumers toward more harmful gambling products. The letter, coordinated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform, stresses that the proposed reforms aim to enhance tax fairness while addressing social harms caused by online gambling, with funds specifically allocated to combat child poverty.