Evoke urges no further gambling tax hikes in Budget after 270 shops shut
Evoke said 270 shop closures and 12,400 sector jobs lost or at risk show the impact of higher gambling taxes, and it warned against new hikes.
- William Hill owner Evoke urged Chancellor John Healey on Friday to "carefully consider" halting further tax hikes ahead of next week's Budget, warning against potential increases in machine games duty.
- Earlier this year, remote gaming tax climbed from 21% to 40%, a move Evoke blamed for closing nearly 300 William Hill shops in the past year, citing "the real impact on jobs and livelihoods."
- Rival group Flutter recently announced cutting around 1,400 jobs in the UK and Ireland to mitigate higher duties, as the Betting and Gaming Council estimates 12,400 roles lost or at risk since last year's Budget.
- Earlier this month, Ladbrokes owner Entain and Grosvenor parent Rank Group urged the Government to rethink reported tax proposals, warning that further hikes threaten the viability of physical betting shops and venues.
- Analyst Mark Crouch of eToro noted that while gaming duties are squeezing profitability, the industry also faces "changing customer habits," suggesting shrinking physical shop footprints complicate the long-term economic model for traditional bookmakers in the UK.
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William Hill owner warns of further betting shop closures as gambling tax squeeze intensifies - London Business News
Evoke urges ministers to think carefully before imposing fresh gambling taxes, blaming last year’s Budget for 270 shop closures as the industry warns that higher duties are putting jobs, venues… The post William Hill owner warns of further betting shop closures as gambling tax squeeze intensifies appeared first on London Business News
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evoke reveals retail estate scars ahead of tax judgement
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