Overview
- The committee recommends increasing the 21% remote gaming duty and the 20% machine games duty, stating both should be higher than the duty paid by casino clubs.
- MPs cite government data showing remote gaming’s share of gross gambling yield rose from 12% in 2014 to 44% in 2024, with online operator yield up more than 60% to £6.9 billion a year.
- The report rejects industry claims of no social harm and describes online betting games as highly addictive, high‑frequency products that damage people, families and communities.
- It urges the Government to examine measures to combat black‑market gambling and additional anti‑avoidance provisions, as the Gambling Commission says illegal online gambling remains a serious threat but is hard to quantify.
- Industry groups warn steep duty rises could push customers to unregulated sites and hurt sectors such as betting shops and racing, with some arguing rates could effectively double if set well above casino duties.