Conservative MPs vote against 'ill-considered' proposals for statutory gambling levy
![British racing is facing a very different political landscape following the Labour landslide](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F990a3cc49912-affordability-parliment.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Conservative MPs have voted against the government's plans to introduce a statutory levy on gambling operators, with shadow sports minister Louie French warning the proposals could be unaffordable for independent high street bookmakers and their racecourse colleagues.
French also called for a debate on the government's tax policies on the wider sector, claiming they could have unintended consequences for horseracing.
The statutory levy was among the proposals contained within the previous government's white paper published in 2023 and was intended to raise £100 million a year from the gambling industry to pay for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms.
In November, Labour ministers announced their plans for the levy, which raised the rates originally set out for betting shops and racecourse bookmakers and lowered the threshold at which they would have to pay the levy.
![Louie French:](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fb3679a3f4473-screenshot-2024-02-26-at-181610.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Speaking at a delegated legislation committee on Wednesday morning discussing the statutory instrument to introduce the levy, French said there were "major concerns across the sector" about the impact of the proposals.
He also said while some might want to "bash the bookies" there needed to be a "sensible debate" about the collective impact of recently announced tax rises on the sector and "the potential unintended consequences" for areas such as British horseracing.
He added: "Betting revenues on horseracing are evidently falling because of flawed affordability checks and the economic backdrop today is fundamentally bleaker because of Labour's budget which adds to the broader sector's concerns as the government seeks to squeeze even more money out of firms.
"We all must be clear that these levies being discussed will further push up costs for businesses, severely restricting or even removing the viability of smaller gambling operators and important community assets such as bingo halls and racecourses across the country when Labour's tax rises are taken as a whole."
![Stepanie Peacock:](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fb923d965483f-mp-stephanie-peacock.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
In response, culture minister Stephanie Peacock said she had no wish to "bash the sector", and that she recognised its contribution but that the issue was about getting the balance right between the "millions" who enjoy gambling and the issue of gambling harm.
She added: "We've listened very carefully to the arguments made by the land-based sector and we do understand the higher operating costs.
"We are keen to work with them and we are confident that this is evidence-led and this gets the balance right."
The proposals for the statutory levy passed the committee by 11 votes to four and will now go through the same committee process in the House of Lords. A vote on plans to limit online slot stakes passed unanimously.
Following the committee meeting French said: "Gambling firms are broadly in agreement that they should contribute for efforts to stop problem gambling, but Labour's plan punitively punishes an industry which employs 109,000 people and pays £3.6 billion in tax already.
"The government's ill-considered proposals will hit small and independent track-side bookmakers, bingo halls and high street bookies already under pressure.
"On top of rising national insurance costs, it's simply unaffordable. It will cost jobs, close businesses and hurt horseracing, which relies on gambling to fund the sport."
Read these next:
Racecourse bookmakers left 'angry and disappointed' by government's new statutory levy
Independent bookmakers face 'hammer blow' from new statutory levy on gambling operators
Government confirms plans to introduce new £100 million levy on gambling operators
![](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Ffbf79c80bbc8-racing-post-generic-promo.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Subscribe to Racing Post+ Ultimate now
Published on inBritain
Last updated
- 'Apprenticeships mean people like me have had a door opened' - how racing is creating pathways into the industry
- 'I don't think it's a waste of time' - wind op for Ahoy Senor as he is primed for latest tilt at Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Jordan Gainford 'on his way home' from hospital after Haydock fall
- 'You miss the craic but I still get some of that in the building trade' - the Ascot Chase-winning rider now working as an electrician
- Fulke Johnson Houghton obituary: a trainer of champions and Classic winners and part of a family steeped in racing
- 'Apprenticeships mean people like me have had a door opened' - how racing is creating pathways into the industry
- 'I don't think it's a waste of time' - wind op for Ahoy Senor as he is primed for latest tilt at Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Jordan Gainford 'on his way home' from hospital after Haydock fall
- 'You miss the craic but I still get some of that in the building trade' - the Ascot Chase-winning rider now working as an electrician
- Fulke Johnson Houghton obituary: a trainer of champions and Classic winners and part of a family steeped in racing