Treasury's proposed new Remote Betting & Gaming Duty would be 'catastrophic for Racing's fragile finances' BGC warn
BETTING & GAMING COUNCIL chiefs have warned HM Treasury any further tax increases would be "catastrophic for Racing's fragile finances".
It comes following a proposal into 'The Tax Treatment of
Remote Gambling' which would see taxes hiked further, due to the increase in remote users in gambling.
2
The latest proposal follows fresh on the heels of the gambling White Paper, which hit the gambling sector's revenue by over a billion pounds.
Trends have shown that punters are using mobile devices more and more for their betting.
At present, the structure of tax makes clear distinctions between general betting, pool betting and remote gaming, with the government suggesting it now doesn't reflect the increased use of the latter.
As such, they're looking to introduce a new single remote gambling tax - named Remote Betting & Gaming Duty - which would include 'betting and gaming activities offered remotely such as online casino,
and remote betting including general and pool betting'.
But BGC chiefs have hit back, saying its members already contribute £6.8bn to the economy and generate £4bn in tax", while any further tax increases would 'make a mockery of the government's strategy for growth'.
They've also warned it could have a detrimental impact on punters moving into the black market for their gaming, and also for the future of horse racing, which is already battling with its finances.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO, Grainne Hurst, said: 'Raising taxes further now on regulated betting and gaming through a new single tax would be utterly self-defeating for the Government, while making a mockery of their growth strategy.
'Any potential further increase in taxes on our members, so soon after a White Paper which cost the sector over a billion pounds in lost revenue, will not raise more money for the Treasury.
'If General Betting Duty is raised to the same level as Remote Gaming Duty under one new tax, it would be catastrophic for Racing's fragile finances.
'It will also likely force businesses to push investment and jobs overseas, while making their products more expensive for UK customers, driving them to the growing unsafe gambling black market online, which doesn't pay a penny in tax and doesn't have any of the safer gambling protections available in the regulated sector.
'BGC members contribute £6.8bn to the economy, generate £4bn in tax while supporting 109,000 jobs, but this flawed approach can only lead to a spiral of decline.
'Government must listen to business and sport and not drive growth, investment and jobs out of one of the UK's few global business success stories.'
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
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When deciding which golf betting sites to recommend, we always check what bonuses and promotions they offer for the sport. ✅ Live golf betting Golf can be incredibly unpredictable, which presents a lot of excellent in-play betting opportunities for punters. When selecting the best UK golf betting sites to recommend, we verify whether they offer live streams, the quality of their live odds, and how promptly their live odds and markets are updated. ✅ Golf betting features Finally, we also monitor the number of betting features available. Cash-out, acca insurance, early payout, free-to-enter predictions, and more have all become commonplace in the betting world in recent years, and many of these can be extremely helpful when betting on golf. 🏌️♂️ How to bet on golf online Betting on golf has boomed in popularity over the last few years, and bookmakers have made it easier than ever to bet on the sport. If you are new to golf betting, all you need to do is follow these steps to get started: Choose your preferred golf betting sites from the ones explored in this guide. Follow the link provided and complete the sign-up process. Be sure to claim any available welcome bonuses. Once you are registered and have deposited funds, find the golf section. This is typically listed in the A-Z sports list, but may be displayed on the homepage. Scroll through the available golf markets and choose the event you want to bet on. Add your selection to your betting slip and enter your stake. Be sure to check the amount and then confirm your bet. Sit back, enjoy the golf, and hope for the best! 💥 How to make the most of your free bet offers for golf Free bets can be an excellent way to boost your account and enhance your overall sports betting experience. While most sports betting sites will not offer free bets that can be exclusively used on golf, most free bets will be flexible and allow punters to use them on a range of sports. However, it is essential to check this beforehand, as some may only allow you to use a portion of your free bet for golf. Ultimately, how you use your free bet comes down to your decision. Personally, I have found using free bets to get ahead of future markets and lock in top odds can be extremely useful. If, however, you don't want to play the long game, then consider backing an outsider with your free bet. Backing favourites with free bets is not particularly beneficial, as you will always lose the stake. 📊Popular golf betting markets One of the primary reasons for golf's popularity among sports bettors is the numerous markets available. The following are the most popular golf betting markets at UK betting sites: Tournament winner - Tournament winner bets are the most common bets to place on golf. This is simply a bet on which golfer will win a tournament, for example, you might bet on Scottie Scheffler to win the US Open. Top 5/10/20 finish - This is a bet on a player finishing in a specific position range during a tournament. For example, you might back Justin Thomas to finish in the top 5 players at the PGA Championship. Each-way: Each-way betting in golf works in the same way it does in horse racing betting. When you place an each-way bet, you are actually placing two separate bets: one for the player to win the tournament, and the other for them to place within a certain number of positions. For example, if you back Xander Schauffele each-way at the Masters and the bet pays out for four places, and he finishes third, you would win the each-way part of the bet. 1st round leader - Golf can be very unpredictable. As such, it is not unheard of for the tournament leader at the end of the first round not to go on and win the tournament. This makes betting on the first-rounder leader betting markets particularly interesting, as they can often offer some good value. Head to head - Head to head is a unique type of betting in golf that allows punters to bet on the outcome between two players competing in a tournament or during a specific round. For example, you might back Rory McIlroy in a head-to-head with Xander Schauffele in the first round at the US Open Championship. Make the cut - If you bet on whether a player makes the cut, you are wagering on whether or not they make it past the first two rounds. The cut is designed to reduce the number of golfers in the later stages of a tournament. Like the first round leader market, this can be an excellent market to find some value. Hole-in-one - A hole-in-one is another betting type exclusive to golfing. It is a bet on whether a hole-in-one will be achieved. This can be by a certain player, during a specific round, on a specific day, or during the tournament. Top player by country/region - Another betting market we believe offers a lot of value is the top player by country/region, also known as nationality bets. This is a bet on which player will finish the highest from a specific country or region. This presents great betting opportunities as it reduces the field and can present some real value. ⛳️ Popular golf tournaments for betting The golf calendar is loaded with exciting events and betting opportunities throughout the year. The following are the biggest events to look out for: The Open The Open is the final major of the calendar year. It takes place every July and is widely considered the most prestigious of the four majors, mainly due to its history. The tournament was founded in 1860 and is the only one of the four majors to take place outside the US. The tournament has been held at different venues across the UK, including St Andrews, Royal St George's, and the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. PGA Championship The PGA Championship is another popular golf tournament that takes place at different courses across the US. The championship is held every May, with a huge prize pot of $15 million being given to the winner. It is another one of the four majors. Xander Schauffele is the reigning champion, with Americans dominating the tournament for the last decade. US Open The penultimate of the four majors to take place each year is the US Open. This is held every June and was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world. It is held at different venues each year, with Bryson DeChambeau winning the 2024 edition at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. The Masters The Masters is perhaps the best-known golf tournament in the world, and it is one that certainly receives a lot of attention from bookies and punters alike. The tournament is held every April, with Rory McIlroy finally getting his hand on the iconic green jacket and winning this year's edition. Ryder Cup The Ryder Cup is a biennial event that brings together the best golfers from the US and Europe to compete for the titular prize. The tournament sees Team USA and Team Europe go toe-to-toe over a series of foursomes, fourballs, and single matches. The event has been held since 1927, with Europe having the better of America in that time. The next Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place in Farmingdale, New York, this September. Tour Championship The TOUR Championship is one of the final stops on the PGA Tour and is one of the most viewed and bet-on events on the golf calendar. The tournament is held at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta and takes place every September. It is also one of the FedEx Cup Playoff events. Players Championship Another significant stop on the PGA Tour is the Players Championship. This is one of the most lucrative tournaments in golf, held annually at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida. While it is not officially a major, it is often promoted as the fifth major, with one of the biggest reasons for this being the quality of the players competing at the event. 💡 Golf betting tips If you are new to betting on golf, you might be wondering about the best practices to follow to ensure you are not always losing your money. The following are our top tips for betting on golf in the UK: 1. Study player form and history If you are going to bet on golf, or any sport for that matter, you should always do your research beforehand. As an individual sport, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered when betting on golf, including a player's previous records on different courses, their current form, and how they handle different weather conditions. 2. Check the weather Speaking of weather conditions, one of the first things you should do when checking on golf is check the weather. The wind and rain can have a serious impact on how players perform, and it is also a factor that can not be controlled. While weather reports are not always going to be accurate, checking them before a tournament can be an excellent way of keeping ahead of the bookies. 3. Take advantage of bonuses and promotions Bonuses and promotions can be an excellent way of giving your online sports betting account a little boost, and they can also be a great way to enhance your golf betting experience. Free bets and other promotions are going to be available throughout the year, but you will definitely see an increase in them during major events like The Masters or the Ryder Cup. Likewise, you should also keep your eyes peeled for price boosts during major tournaments. 4. Set a budget Managing your budget is crucial to maximising the benefits of any online sports betting experience. Punters should always practise responsible gambling and never spend more than they can afford to lose. All of the UK golf betting sites listed in this guide offer useful responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits and, if needed, time-out and self-exclusion options. 5. Follow tipster advice Finally, if you need help, then why not listen to the people who have been there and done it? Our golf betting tipsters at The Sun live and breathe golfing, and they want to share that passion and knowledge with you. Be sure to check in with us regularly to get the latest and best golf tips to help you improve your golf betting online. ❓ FAQ about golf betting sites 1. Are there any golf free bets for new users? Yes, several top UK bookmakers will offer free bets to new customers. However, in most instances, these bets are not specifically focused on golf and are, instead, just free bets that can be used on any sport. 2. Is it safe to bet online on golf? Yes, providing you are betting with a licensed UK betting site. All of the operators recommended in this guide are fully licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. 3. Can I bet live on golf tournaments? Yes. You can bet in-play on golf tournaments. Many of the bookmakers on this list will offer live odds, with some even providing streams. 4. Can I bet on golf on my mobile? Absolutely. All of the golf betting sites in this guide offer golf betting, both pre-event and in-play, on mobile devices, with many of them having free-to-download betting apps. 5. What are the best golf betting sites? The best golf betting site for you is going to come down to personal preference. bet365, BetVictor, Betfred, 888 Sport, BetMGM, and Spreadex are among the best currently available in the UK. About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – GambleAware – Read our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
