UK high street crisis, global reforms and licence renewals

Weekend conversation corner - 25 September

Welcome to the thirty-sixth episode of the second season of Weekend Conversation Corner, brought to you by Focus Gaming News! Join your hosts, Oliver and Charlotte, as we break down the biggest global regulatory developments and market shifts impacting the gambling industry this week.

Could doubling Machine Game Duty mean the death of UK high street betting shops by 2030? In this episode, Oliver and Charlotte dive into that alarming warning alongside a full briefing on the week's headline stories:

UK retail betting under fire: Betfred founder Fred Done warns that a proposed tax hike from 20 per cent to 40 per cent could force 495 shop closures and eliminate over 2,500 jobs across the UK.
UK welfare restrictions: The Conservative Party unveils a controversial proposal to restrict long-term unemployment benefits and ban welfare funds from being spent on gambling, alcohol, or tobacco.
Bulgaria’s major regulatory overhaul: Bulgaria proposes sweeping reforms including higher minimum tax framework contributions, real-time reporting to the tax agency, and near-total advertising bans.
Netherlands licence renewals: Regulator KSA approves the first wave of online gambling licence renewals ahead of the market's fifth anniversary, placing strict emphasis on past compliance records.
Italy's budget revenue push: Government officials weigh extending retail gambling concessions to 2029 and introducing new scratch-card tenders to raise hundreds of millions for the 2027 budget.
Malta's regulatory evolution: A look back at how Malta’s 2018 Gaming Act built a world-leading igaming hub, and how the MGA is positioning itself for crypto-assets and sports betting integrity heading toward 2026.