A senior Conservative MP in the UK Parliament has sounded an alarm, arguing that the government’s sharp increase in gambling taxes could endanger the future of bet365, one of Britain’s leading gambling firms and a cornerstone employer in the county of Staffordshire. The tax hike will likely force operators to cut costs, leading to a wave of job losses across the sector.
bet365 Is Vital to Stoke-on-Trent’s Economy
According to The Sentinel, Sir Gavin Williamson expressed concern over the sudden increase in online gambling taxes during a recent Budget debate in the House of Commons. He feared that the sudden rise in online gambling duties could trigger significant job losses at bet365’s Stoke-on-Trent headquarters. The operator has around 5,500 staff in the city, making it the largest private-sector employer in the area.
This budget could potentially destroy one of our most successful technology sectors.
Sir Gavin Williamson
Starting next April, the government will increase the tax on online gambling to 40% from the current rate of 21%. A second increase will follow in 2027, raising the tax on digital sports betting from 15% to 25%. Horse racing will be spared the higher rate, but most online products that drive revenue for leading operators will fall squarely within the new regime.
Sir Gavin warned that the new taxes directly threaten a company that helped rebuild the region’s economy after decades of decline in traditional industries. Stoke-on-Trent was once characterized by pottery and coal mining. As those industries dwindled, bet365 became one of the few sources of high-paying, skilled work.
The Gambling Sector Is Scrambling to Adapt
The UK government itself acknowledged that behavioral changes could reduce the projected tax contributions by as much as a third, as customers spend less or migrate toward unregulated offshore platforms. Sir Gavin argued that the Treasury could end up damaging a thriving industry without even achieving the promised revenue gains.
bet365 has been one of the most responsible employers, investing in the local community, investing in charity, paying its taxes here in the United Kingdom.
Sir Gavin Williamson
These warnings echo the concerns of the UK’s Betting and Gambling Council. CEO Grainne Hurst recently described the tax hike as a “hammer blow” for the industry. Operators nationwide are now scrambling to readjust their bonus structures, marketing budgets, and staffing levels before the first price hike.
Analysts remain concerned that operators might not be able to absorb the impact just through efficiency improvements. They fear that the burden could fall on payrolls, customer incentives, and product investment. For Staffordshire, the stakes extend beyond the gambling debate. Sir Gavin warned that losing momentum at bet365 would reopen economic wounds the region had taken so long to heal.