Budget's gambling tax hike may lead to 'jobs being lost'

MP’s warning after bet365 ‘hammer blow’

- Sentinel Reporter

A STAFFORDSHIRE MP told a House of Commons debate how the Government's new tax policies on online gambling threatens the success of betting giants bet365 and could lead to job losses.

Sir Gavin Williamson, the former education secretary, said the decision to increase remote online gambling duty by 19 percentage points would be a ‘hammer blow’ for the betting and gambling industry.

The tax hike was announced alongside another raise, in that for online sports betting from 15% to 25%. Horse racing will be exempt.

Speaking on the third day of the Budget debate in the House of Commons, Sir Gavin said bet365 employs 5,500 people in Stoke-on-Trent, and is the city’s largest single private sector employer.

He said after the decline of other industries in the city, notably pottery and coal, it provided rare well-paid work in the wider region.