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Official figures show the gambling industry took in £16.8bn from consumers in the year to March after paying out any prizes – a 7.3% increase on the previous year.
Gambling Commission The latest annual industry statistics, which report on the customer-facing gambling industry, said great britainshowed that the increase in “gross gambling yield” (GGY) was largely driven by online gambling, which increased by more than £900 million to reach an annual figure of £7.8 billion.
The regulator said that in terms of GGY, the remote casino, betting and bingo (RCBB) sector made up 46% of the market in Great Britain.
The land-based sector accounted for 29% of the market, worth £4.8 billion.
Meanwhile, including licensed lotteries national lottery And the Society Lottery made up 25% of the industry’s GGY of £4.2 billion.
The figures follow reports that chancellor May announce an increase in the tax rate to be paid on all online earnings by bookmakers as part of Budget On Wednesday.
Two influential think tanks, IPPR and SMF, have both recommended that Remote Gaming Duty (RGD), which applies to online games of chance and is the largest duty as it is charged on the fast-growing online sector, should be doubled to more than 50%.
A spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents the gambling industry, said: “The headline growth in the betting and gaming industry paints a mixed picture.
“While some products have expanded in response to customer demand, land-based operators including betting shops have suffered contraction in real terms, with more than 30 shops closing in the quarter.
“BGC members generate £6.8 billion for the economy, contribute more than £4 billion in tax and support 109,000 jobs while sustaining local economies and sports.
“Ministers must be careful in the Budget not to introduce measures that weaken the regulated sector and strengthen the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market, which pays no tax and offers none of the protections that exist in the regulated sector.”