Healey’s Budget gambling tax will wipe out almost 2,000 jobs and close 252 venues
Gambling industry warns that a Budget tax rise could close 252 venues and cost nearly 2,000 jobs in coastal communities.Summary
Industry representatives warn that a proposed gambling tax increase in the forthcoming Budget could have a severe impact on Britain’s coastal communities. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) claims that 244 betting shops and eight casinos—252 venues in total—could close, putting 1,761 jobs at risk. There are currently 609 betting shops and 20 casinos in these areas. The warning comes as the Chancellor seeks ways to raise revenue amid rising government borrowing costs. Gambling operators argue that increasing machine games duty would harm businesses that provide essential employment in towns with limited opportunities. They also highlight the social role of betting shops, where regular customers visit for conversation and community. Meanwhile, proposals to reverse a cut to the bank profits surcharge are also under consideration, with unions arguing that major banks can afford to pay more. The competing ideas underscore the Chancellor’s difficult political calculation. For coastal towns, the concern is that closures could lead to more vacant shopfronts and reduced local spending, though the scale of closures remains a warning rather than a confirmed outcome.
(Source：London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com)