Gambling policy is once again dominating political debate across the UK spectrum, with multiple parties staking out competing positions ahead of the Autumn Budget.
The Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, is reportedly considering a motion that would ban gambling advertising in sport entirely and introduce personal ID tracking for punters.
Under the Greens’ proposed measures, the ID-based tracking system would lead to tougher restrictions specifically targeting bettors under the age of 25.
Betting and Gaming Council Chief Executive Officer Grainne Hurst responded sharply to the proposals, calling them “out of touch” with the realities of the regulated gambling market.
Hurst also warned that such restrictions would drive punters away from regulated operators and toward the illegal black market, a concern the BGC has raised repeatedly in recent years.
The Greens’ hardline stance on gambling has found some support among members of the House of Lords, who have echoed similar sentiments about tightening industry controls.
On the Conservative side, party leader Kemi Badenoch has vowed to be “tough on those who exploit the current system”, which she labelled as “unfair”, outlining proposals that would reduce standard payments by 30%.
Under the Tory plan, funds would be loaded onto a designated card rather than into bettors’ regular bank accounts, though Labour has signalled that such a proposal is unlikely to move forward in the near term.
Regulated gambling operators are already under significant financial pressure following the rise in Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40%, which was implemented in April of this year.
The industry is also bracing for a further blow in the form of a General Betting Duty hike from 15% to 25%, scheduled to take effect in April 2027.
Senior executives from major UK gambling companies have been actively lobbying against further tax increases, with figures from William Hill and Entain, which owns Ladbrokes Coral, making their voices heard publicly.
Leo Walker, William Hill’s managing director for retail, told the Racing Post that he “can see the industry really rallying together to lobby hard” against any rise in Machine Games Duty.
With tax pressures mounting and political parties pulling in very different directions, the UK gambling sector faces one of its most challenging regulatory and fiscal periods in recent memory.
