The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will introduce new rules from July 29, 2026, that will demand the removal of all non-compliant gaming machines from casinos.The current...
BGC CEO criticizes the UK government’s gambling tax reforms
The Betting and Gaming Council’s (BGC) CEO, Grainne Hurst, has spoken against the UK’s latest gambling tax reforms, stressing that they undermine the competitiveness of the gambling industry.
Hurst argues that the increased taxes will bring unintended consequences. She explains that the UK’s regulated market is already one of the most demanding compliance frameworks globally, where operators are bearing the cost of consumer protection reforms.
Moreover, an additional layer of financial burden will create a distortion in consumer behavior. Hurst believes the tax reforms will push players away from the regulated market towards illegal platforms that don’t comply with UK regulations.
Hurst wrote in a letter:
“The Treasury’s decision to hike taxes on online betting and gaming is not just short-sighted but dangerous… Those reforms were designed to protect consumers within a safe, regulated market. Piling significant new taxes on top risks achieving the opposite…”
She concluded:
“At the crossroads, the government has already headed down the wrong road. The question is whether it is prepared to turn back before lasting damage is done, or will they simply allow the black market to dictate the future of betting and gaming in the UK.”
Hurst worries that the budget tax changes will disrupt the balance in the number of adults who engage with licensed operators, leading to a migration to black markets, which European jurisdictions suggest is difficult to reverse.
During a consultation that began on January 27, 2026, the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced plans to increase operator license fees by 30% in an...
