Betting and Gaming Council Launches 'Back Our Betting Shops' in Britain

The Betting and Gaming Council has launched the 'Back Our Betting Shops' campaign in the UK, directly addressing the economic and community stakes faced by betting shops amid potential tax hikes. At the heart of the campaign is a warning: further increases in Machine Games Duty—particularly to a 40% rate—could put thousands of jobs and venues at risk across Britain, with wider consequences for communities and the national economy.

BGC's Focus on Real-World Impact

The campaign aims to bring attention to the individuals whose livelihoods depend on betting shops. This includes long-time employees, apprentices, managers, customers, and community partners—figures often overlooked in national discussions about gaming policy and tax. The Betting and Gaming Council's (BGC) approach highlights how shops remain important social hubs within high streets, while stating explicitly that job losses would come with local, not just abstract, human costs.

Potential Tax Changes and Their Sector-Wide Consequences

Economic modelling by EY, cited in the campaign, projects significant negative outcomes from further tax increases:

• A Machine Games Duty set at 40% could threaten up to 16,000 jobs
• Nearly 1,500 betting shops might close
• Up to 34 casinos may be at risk of shutting down
• The UK Treasury could see £124 million less in net receipts

These projections place an emphasis on both industry scale and Treasury interests, countering the idea that further taxes would simply increase government revenue. The warning comes during a period in which gambling regulation and tax policy remain central debates in the regulation and news agendas for the sector.

Ongoing Betting Shop Closures and Sector Employment

The sector has already faced widespread contraction. Since 2019:

• Over 3,000 betting shops have closed nationwide
• These closures have led to a loss of more than 16,000 jobs
• 22 casinos have closed, resulting in more than 3,000 jobs lost
• 108 bingo clubs have been shuttered, causing upwards of 2,000 job losses

Despite this, betting shops collectively still support over 36,000 jobs across Britain. The regulated betting and gaming sector as a whole sustains approximately 109,000 jobs and generates an estimated £6.8 billion in gross value added, as well as more than £4 billion each year in tax revenue for the Exchequer.

Betting Shops as Community and Economic Anchors

For many localities, betting shops serve as more than commercial outlets. They act as gathering places, draw customers to town centres, and support foot traffic for neighbouring businesses. The loss of additional shops could accelerate the hollowing out of Britain’s high streets. Beyond employment, the sector’s economic footprint is evident in the gross value added and the substantial tax contribution derived from regulated gaming activity.

Support for British Sport and Community Initiatives

Betting shops play a recognised role in supporting British sport—especially horseracing—via the statutory Horserace Betting Levy, and through sponsorship and investment in both professional and grassroots sports like rugby league. These partnerships have material impact for sports clubs and competitions grounded in local communities across the country. The campaign aims to highlight these contributions alongside the economic ones.

“Behind every betting shop is a team of real people earning a living, supporting their families and playing a part in their local community,” said BGC CEO Grainne Hurst. “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, often with staff who have known their customers for years.”

"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. They could mean more people losing their livelihoods, more empty shopfronts and more communities losing businesses they value," Hurst continued.

Purpose and Structure of 'Back Our Betting Shops'

The campaign will feature stories from betting shops across Britain, aiming to give a public voice to:

• Staff and apprentices whose jobs are at stake
• Customers and local residents who rely on the social element of betting shops
• Operators and community partners involved in local initiatives

Its objective is to balance policy discussions about taxation and regulation with individual stories and concrete data from the regulated sector. The BGC emphasises the broader role of betting shops beyond revenue generation or business operations: acting as employers, community anchors, and contributors to British sporting life.

Industry Context and Policy Debate

The BGC’s launch of this campaign comes as policy makers debate changes in tax and regulation. Operators, industry analysts and community stakeholders are tracking potential developments closely, knowing the practical impacts outlined in the campaign are measurable and locally significant. The BGC is seeking to ensure its members’ voices—especially those of shop workers and local businesses—are considered in future policy and fiscal decisions concerning the sector.