Entain CEO Warns UK Gambling Tax Rise Could Threaten Betting Shops
Entain’s Stella David has cautioned that higher gambling taxes could force the company to consider Ladbrokes and Coral closures, raising concerns over retail betting’s future in the UK.
Exclusive Interview with Gambling Insider
Stella David, CEO of London-listed Entain, has cautioned that potential increases in gambling taxes could put Britain’s retail betting sector at risk. In an exclusive interview with Gambling Insider, she warned that the company may have to consider closing some Ladbrokes and Coral shops “depending on the level of where the increases were.” David saidDavid saidDavid saidDavid saidDavid said:David saidDavid saidDavid saidDavid said
“I don’t expect anyone on the street to feel sorry for us at all, that’s not their job. But a normal person on the street who likes to have a bet can’t tell the difference between a black market site and a regulated site.”
She warned this could undermine player safety, since licensed betting shops provide face-to-face interaction and operate under stricter limits.
Potential Impact of New Tax Measures
Entain owns Ladbrokes and Coral, which together account for about 2,300 betting shops. The government has not yet proposed specific tax increases, but the Treasury has launched a consultation on merging three current online duties – remote gaming duty (21%), pool betting duty (15%), and general betting duty (15%) – into a new Remote Betting and Gaming Duty.
The discussion has fueled political pressure. The Liberal Democrats and more than 100 Labour MPs have urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise remote gaming duty for online casinos from 21% to 50%, slots duty from 20% to 50%, and general betting duty on non-racing bets from 15% to 25%. Former prime minister Gordon Brown has supported this idea, which the Institute for Public Policy Research estimates could raise £3.2bn. Reeves has hinted she may be open, telling ITV she believed “there’s a case for gambling firms paying more.”
Divisions in Gambling and Racing Industries
The debate has also deepened tensions between the gambling sector and horse racing. In September, the British Horseracing Authority staged a strike against a unified tax plan. The Betting and Gaming Council condemned the move, while some gambling executives accused racing leaders of backing higher tax rates on other verticals to secure exemptions for their own sector.
Betting Sector Under Pressure
Betting shops remain a presence on UK high streets, with 5,931 currently operating, according to Statista. But numbers are falling — down more than 19% since March 2020. More people now gamble online (38%) than in shops (29%), including lottery play.
Financial results reflect the shift: in Q1 of the 2025/26 fiscal year, retail betting gross gambling yield (GGY) fell 5% to £552m, while online GGY rose 2% to £1.49bn.
The UK government’s autumn budget, where Reeves is expected to clarify plans, will be presented on November 26.