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Uk Betting Tax In No Way Compares To India's Gst On Betting...

By Murari | 13-Sep-2025

There has been a great deal of noise and misunderstanding about the impact of the proposed tax increase in the UK Betting tax from 15% to 21%.

A report commissioned by the BHA claims there will be a loss of £66 million in the first year, resulting in the loss of (a suspiciously specific) 2752 jobs.

The British Horseracing Industry called a 'no races' strike on Wednesday, and various prominent faces (John Gosden, William Haggas and the Hon. Harry Herbert amongst them) stood outside Parliament to make their voices heard. We have all been asked to write to our MPs (which I have done) to express concern about the whole business.

My sense is this is all a bit of an overreaction. Let us try to shed some light, rather than noise, on the issue.

(I am summarising the below points from a piece written by John Brown - CEO and Chairman of Bookmakers William Hill - in the excellent magazine produced by ex-Trainer Mark Johnson, a copy of which he sends to me every month). 

1. The 'Betting Tax' levied on British punters (we could choose whether to pay it on our bets or any winnings, at the time of placing the bet) - was in fact abolished in 2001.

2. It was replaced by a 15% tax on the Gross Profits of Bookies (online and Betting shops), levied on Bookies. Not the punter directly.

3. The Bookies were also to pay an annual Levy to the Racing Industry based on Betting Profits (This Levy was £100 million in 2023/24)

3. Profits on online games of chance (bingo, roulette, slots) were charged to the Bookies at the rate of 21%.

4. The proposal to equalise tax on sports betting with games of chance at 21% is what is causing all this heat and noise.

The simple fact is that Bookies would have to see a 66% fall in Betting Profits for the Horseracing Industry to lose £66 million per annum. (Based on the £100 million currently paid to the Industry via the Levy).

It is highly unlikely, in my view, that a 6% increase in taxes on Bookies for sports betting will result in a 66% loss in Bookies' profits.

A 21% tax on British Bookies' profits vs 48% GST on Indian bets? No comparison.

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3 Replies

Rameshkumar said ...

16-Sep-2025

CHENNAI, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Mysore Combined Jackpot collection 5Laksh only at 2025. 

Murari said ...

15-Sep-2025

Well done, Prinit. Can I suggest you all also write to your Members of Parliament, and - in particular - to the Finance Minister?

Below is the response of my British Member of Parliament to me on the above issue. He obviously understands the issue (games of chance vs skill sport) very well, and supports the UK Racing Industry's view. 

"Dear Murari 

Thank you for your email letting me know of your concern about the Government’s rumoured plans to increase gambling tax rates.

I appreciate you taking the time to write to me about this. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I recognise a distinction between the harms posed by betting on horse racing and by online gambling. This is why our focus would be on doubling the rate of remote gaming duty, rather than supporting the Government's unconvincing proposals to harmonise gambling tax rates.

Our proposals would not only raise millions of pounds for the treasury while disincentivising harmful online gambling, but would also recognise the distinct nature of sports betting, like that on horse racing. We know there are issues with problem gambling that need to be addressed, which is why we are calling for a public health approach to be taken to gambling harms. It is not clear, however, that betting on horse racing is a driver of gambling harms in the same way as other betting products such as online slot machines.

What is clear is that harmonisation would pose potentially damaging issues for the horse racing industry, which sustains thousands of jobs across the UK. We are therefore calling on the Government to set out how it would mitigate the potential risks to the industry that harmonisation may cause.

I do hope that this offers you some clarity on my stance on this matter. Should you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to let me know."

Prinit said ...

15-Sep-2025

Indian authorities are not super intelligent. Very difficult to argue logic with them. also no one is trying.  I had posted comments saying will participate in any protest held in pune. Those comments were not published. Stupid comments like maza aa gaya are posted promptly. doubts whether this one will be published.