The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) started the Back Our Betting Shops initiative ahead of the Autumn Budget, which is set to be unveiled by the authorities soon.
The campaign has emerged after both Entain and Betfred warned that they might have to shut down their betting shops in case the government should decide to raise the Machine Games Duty (MGD), which is the tax imposed on the revenue received through the gaming machines.
BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said:
These shops are not just businesses. For many people they are community hubs, familiar places on the high street where people work, meet and socialise.
According to the introduction of the campaign, the government is expected to implement the hike of all three rates of the MGD. As a result of the law changes, the lowest rate will rise to 10% from the previous 5%, while the ordinary rate will reach 40% from the previous 20%. As for the high tariff, it will now equal 50% instead of 25%.
The BGC campaign aims to highlight the possible consequences of the changes introduced for land-based betting operators, specifically affecting their employees and retail operators.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive Officer of the BGC, commented:
We have already seen thousands of shops close and thousands of jobs disappear. Further tax increases would not just show up on a balance sheet. That is why we are asking Britain to Back Our Betting Shops. This campaign is about telling the stories behind the statistics and making sure the voices of the people whose jobs and communities are at stake are heard.
The recent campaign of BGC seems to counter the increase in Remote Gaming Duty and General Betting Duty in 2025. The British Horseracing Authority has also started the #AxeTheRacingTax campaign whereas The Sun has supported its Save Our Bets initiative.
This debate occurs at the time of public funding and taxation. Dom Burnham has suggested that the country could adopt NHS-like social care scheme funded by a newer way of obtaining revenue from the government.
