UK gambling tax revenue falls below expectations

The impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns mean HMRC has reported less tax revenue from UK gambling than expected.

UK.- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reported that UK gambling tax revenue for the 2020/2021 financial year came in below expectations due to the impact of the national lockdowns designed to control the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Tax receipts from UK gambling from April 2020 to March 2021 reached £2.83bn, down 6 per cent when compared to the previous financial year.

HMRC put the decline down to national lockdowns and the cancellation of sporting events during the initial period of lockdown. 

Land-based Gaming Duties (GD) plummeted 62 per cent to £79m and Machine Gaming Duties (MGD) fell 44 per cent year-on-year to £282m.

Growth in tax from online gaming

The growth of online gambling under lockdown led to a 25 per cent rise in tax from Remote Gaming Duties (RGD) to £885m, accounting for 31 per cent of total revenue.

HMRC said in a statement: “Increases in RGD against previous financial years are potentially due to gamblers utilising online services in lockdown more so than they would if betting shops, bingo halls and other gambling premises were open as normal.”

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Lottery duty remains stable

Lottery Duty (LD) remained the highest tax generator in the gambling sector. It generated provisional tax receipts of £980m, up 1 per cent year-on-year.

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