Big Bookies Offer to Increase Voluntary Levy to 1%
By Simon Wright, Last updated Mar 1, 2021
The likes of William Hill, GVC owned Ladbrokes Coral and bet365 have today announced that they will offer to increase a levy on their profits from 0.1% to 1%. Thus increasing overnight their combined contribution from £10m to £100m per annum.
The BBC is reporting this afternoon that this increase will occur during the next five years and has been pledged in a letter to the Department of Culture Media and Sport, which the BBC have had sight of.
The offer comes after the Secretary of State for DCMS, Jeremy Wright recently said: “I want the gambling industry to step up on social responsibility and keep their players safe, including through making more funding available for research, education and treatment to tackle problem gambling.”
“I have met the major players in the sector recently and my department is in discussions with them on a strong package to increase their financial contribution, as well as make meaningful commitments on other measures to help ensure people gamble safely.”
“Protecting people and their families from the risks of gambling-related harm is a priority for this government and I am encouraged that the sector now recognises that they need to do more.”
This move comes after earlier this week Tom Watson the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party called for a separate ombudsman be setup to oversee the industry.