
Some of these offshore operations were originally based in Britain, but quickly realised they could reduce their tax burden by locating their servers elsewhere and incorporating in a tax-free jurisdiction. As you might know, many of the sites that operate in the United Kingdom are based offshore. That’s true whether we are talking about the quality of the games, technological aspects like mobile betting, or regulatory and tax issues. If you’ve gambled online, you’ve likely noticed that the industry continues to evolve.

Nonetheless, it’s nice that you can concentrate on playing your favourite games instead of dealing with complicated tax forms. Even though players do not pay these fees directly, they are factored into the odds in many ways. While you do not have to pay taxes whether you win or lose, the government does tax the profits of betting shops, poker rooms, casinos, and other related establishments. A large portion of that revenue comes from the 15% tax levy that gambling operators must pay. Although this figure includes lotteries, betting, and both live and remote gaming, it is still astronomical. The government also passed the Gambling Act 2005, established the UK Gambling Commission, and started regulating online casinos.ĭid you know that the UK government makes a fortune from gambling? Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs collected £2.9 billion in gaming-related duty in the 2017-18 fiscal year alone. Yet this move was just one of many important developments. The government was effectively forced to enact several changes as a result of the sudden rise and perceived threat of offshore betting earlier this century. If you’ve been gambling for a while, you may recall dealing with betting duties in the past, but Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time, abolished that tax in 2001. In fact, both online and offline gamblers in the United Kingdom do not have to worry about taxes.

While players in some countries, such as the United States, France, and Macau, must pay gambling taxes ranging from 1% to 25%, bettors in the United Kingdom have the option of keeping their entire winnings. No, gambling is not taxed in the United Kingdom. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about the tax situation in the United Kingdom. HM Revenue and Customs, as one might expect, has no reason to complain, as they claim a sizable share by levying duties on real money gambling operators. Although it may appear difficult to believe, gambling winnings in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England are tax-free. Not only is gambling completely legal and regulated in the UK, but you will be able to keep any winnings. Whether you only gamble a few pounds per year or are a world-renowned poker player, the United Kingdom is a fantastic place to call home.
