More than 540 British high-street betting shops have closed since last year's Budget, with around 4,500 jobs lost. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the industry body for Britain's regulated operators, released the figures as Treasury prepares further tax increases.
Closures accelerated after the government doubled the tax rate on online casino. The Treasury said retail duty rates remained unchanged, but the BGC argues that major operators run online and retail as a single business, so cost pressure in one segment hits the whole company. Betfred shut 132 shops, with another 600 jobs at risk.
The longer view is steeper. Since 2019 Britain has lost around 3,000 betting shops — more than a third of the network — and over 15,000 jobs. The remaining shops support about 37,500 positions. The regulated betting and gaming sector as a whole sustains 109,000 jobs, contributes £6.8 billion in gross value added and delivers more than £4 billion in annual tax.
What next
The BGC warns that the coming increase in online sports betting duty will intensify pressure. Chief executive Grainne Hurst said further cost rises will drive more closures, pull investment out of the market and cut sports sponsorship. She argued that the former Chancellor's policy hands an advantage to the black market.
