UK government to consult on gambling tax reform

The UK government could soon change the way remote gambling is taxed after a proposal outlined in the Autumn Statement.

The UK currently taxes igaming as well as gambling over telephone, TV and radio in a three-tax structure.

The current gaming duty is 21 per cent of remote gaming profits, with pool betting duty 15 per cent and betting duty more widely also 15 per cent.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt’s statement said: “The government will consult shortly on proposals to bring remote gambling (meaning gambling offered over the internet, telephone, TV and radio) into a single tax, rather than taxing it through a three-tax structure.”

The proposed tax consultation comes as the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport is continues to work with the UK Gambling Commission on the white paper on gambling reform, which looks to update the Gambling Act 2005 and bring legislation into the digital age.