Up to 244 betting shops and eight casinos in seaside towns could close with the loss of 1,761 jobs if Labour raises betting taxes at the Autumn Statement on October 28, according to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
Chancellor John Healey and Prime Minister Andy Burnham are due to deliver the Autumn Statement on October 28. The BGC claims that of the 609 betting shops and 20 casinos in seaside areas, 244 stores and eight casinos could be forced to shut if Machine Games Duty (MGD) is increased in the budget.
Industry warns of coastal job losses
The warning comes as the BGC sent a letter to Mr Healey, backed by the sector's biggest employers. The letter was signed by the bosses of Ladbrokes' parent Entain, Flutter (which owns Paddy Power), Bet365, Betfred, and the parent company of William Hill. It provides the starkest industry-wide alert so far of the potential impact of a budget rise in MGD.
At JenningsBet in Christchurch, Dorset, trainee manager Jack Pugh said: “Betting shops are much more than a place to have a bet. For a lot of regulars, we’re part of their daily lives. We know nearly everyone by name and plenty of them pop in just for a cuppa, a chat and a bit of football banter.”
“We’re not just staff to them, we’re friends. That’s what makes these shops so special. Coastal communities can’t afford another tax raid that puts jobs at risk, forces firms to shut and leaves more empty shops on struggling high streets,” Pugh added.
BGC chief highlights vital employment
Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “Betting shops, bingo clubs and casinos provide vital jobs and investment in seaside towns where employment opportunities can be limited.”
The letter, sent only two weeks before Mr Healey's inaugural budget, follows a string of individual warnings, including from Betfred's founder Fred Done, who threatened to close his entire betting shop estate if taxes were raised.
Cultural and sporting role stressed
In the letter, the bosses told Mr Healey: “Betting and gaming are woven into Britain's cultural and sporting life. From a flutter on the Grand National to a trip to the bingo hall or casino, millions of adults enjoy betting and gaming as part of their leisure time.”
Sky News reported earlier this week that the letter had been sent to Mr Healey, with the BGC warning that the potential closures would leave more empty shops on struggling high streets in coastal communities. The industry's warning highlights the economic impact of any tax rise on seaside towns that already face limited employment opportunities.
