Fiscally responsible
Think tank: Social Market Foundation
Author(s): Dr James Noyes; Aveek Bhattacharya; Gideon Salutin
October 15, 2024
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines the case for reforming remote gaming duty.
Online casino gaming is currently undertaxed by the UK – compared to other sectors and other countries. Ahead of the Autumn Budget 2024, this report makes the case for increasing the tax on online casino gaming, and explores public appetite for such a move.
New polling commissioned for this report shows that over half of Britons (52%) believe the government should increase tax on online gambling. When asked to rank which taxes should be raised by the government, three-quarters of people said that gambling duty was their priority, above income tax, VAT, inheritance tax, and duties on fuel, alcohol, and tobacco.
Online gambling is linked to higher rates of harm. This harm carries a fiscal cost which the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has estimated at over £1 billion. The report argues that online casino gaming is currently undertaxed by the UK. This report makes the case for doubling the tax on Remote Gaming Duty, from 21% to 42% – a rate which could bring in as much as £900 million to the Exchequer.
