Senior representatives of the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), including CEO Grainne Hurst and Tax Committee Chair Stephen Hodgson, appeared before the Treasury Committee to oppose proposed gambling tax increases expected in the upcoming Budget. They warned that higher taxes could threaten 40,000 jobs and reduce the sector’s £3 billion contribution to the UK economy. However, Hurst’s denial that gambling causes social harm drew sharp criticism from Treasury Select Committee Chair Dame Meg Hillier, who called the stance “flabbergasting,” especially given concerns about addictive online casino games.
On the other side, proponents of the tax hike, including Paddy Power co-founder Stewart Kenny, argued that gambling should be taxed similarly to alcohol and tobacco due to its social harms. Kenny criticized industry practices that funnel bettors from less addictive sports betting to highly addictive online casino games and dismissed industry warnings about job losses, attributing shop closures to market trends rather than tax changes. The British Horseracing Authority also urged a tax rethink, advocating for lower rates on horseracing betting to protect rural jobs and community benefits, a position supported by some pro-tax panel members who emphasized the social value of horseracing compared to addictive online gambling apps.
