Labour considers £3bn gambling tax under 'polluter pays' proposals
The Guardian|October 12, 2024
Ministers are considering a tax raid of up to £3bn on the gambling sector as Rachel Reeves casts around for funds to shore up the public finances.
Rob Davies

Treasury officials are understood to be weighing up proposals, put forward by two influential thinktanks and backed by one of the party's top five individual donors, to double some of the taxes levied on online casinos and bookmakers.

Measures could be included in this month's budget, Labour's first in 14 years, as the chancellor tries to plug the £22bn "black hole" that she claimed to have found in the nation's finances after taking office.

Sources familiar with the discussions said the Treasury had yet to make a decision but appeared receptive to tweaking the UK's complex regime of betting and gaming duties to raise extra funds of between £900m and £3bn, despite opposition from industry lobbyists.

The call for higher taxes on the £11bn-a-year sector is backed by Derek Webb, a former poker player and casino game inventor, who has funded campaigns for stricter regulation of the gambling industry.

Webb has given £1.3m to Labour since the start of 2023, making him the party's fifth-largest individual donor during that period.

One of the tax plans that Treasury officials are looking at comes from the left-leaning Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Denne historien er fra October 12, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October 12, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIANSe alt
Bentancur to get long ban over alleged racist remark
The Guardian

Bentancur to get long ban over alleged racist remark

Tottenham are resigned to Rodrigo Bentancur being given a lengthy ban of at least six matches by the Football Association for making an allegedly racist remark about Son Heung-min.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
Kane faces Carsley axe Shock as captain set to be left out for crunch Greece match
The Guardian

Kane faces Carsley axe Shock as captain set to be left out for crunch Greece match

Harry Kane is set to be a shock omission from Lee Carsley's England team for tonight's must-win Nations League match against Greece in Athens.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Infantino to avoid scrutiny with virtual 2026 draw
The Guardian

Infantino to avoid scrutiny with virtual 2026 draw

Gianni Infantino will avoid any scrutiny of the controversial decision to give the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia next month after Fifa opted to stage the qualifying draw for the 2026 tournament as a virtual event.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Gordon heeds England's call as no-shows hinder Carsley
The Guardian

Gordon heeds England's call as no-shows hinder Carsley

While a depleted side face tricky tests against Greece and Ireland, there will be big opportunities for some

time-read
4 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Lawrence caps quick Chelsea comeback after Agnew's early strike
The Guardian

Lawrence caps quick Chelsea comeback after Agnew's early strike

Chelsea's aspiration of claiming this season's Women's Champions League was hardly in danger as Murphy Agnew handed Celtic a shock lead.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Paul's big-money fight is a circus but the YouTuber is no clown
The Guardian

Paul's big-money fight is a circus but the YouTuber is no clown

Despite the absurd persona, his business savvy and support of female fighters must be acknowledged

time-read
4 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Tyson offers reminder of boxing's glory days before weary return
The Guardian

Tyson offers reminder of boxing's glory days before weary return

Former Baddest Man on the Planet is reflective but determined in open workout as he gears up for inglorious fight with YouTuber, reports

time-read
4 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Lineker leaves second BBC presenting role
The Guardian

Lineker leaves second BBC presenting role

Gary Lineker has stepped down from his role as presenter of Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty), the BBC has confirmed.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
Coe pulls no punches with his IOC pitch
The Guardian

Coe pulls no punches with his IOC pitch

Sebastian Coe has promised to introduce an \"uncompromising and clearcut\" policy to protect women's sport and to look into awarding prize money to all Olympic medallists if he is elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Slade vows 'not to shut up shop' against Springboks
The Guardian

Slade vows 'not to shut up shop' against Springboks

England are looking to banish their autumn frustrations at South Africa's expense this Saturday and have vowed \"not to shut up shop\" against the reigning world champions.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 14, 2024