UK Gambling Harm Rises Up Agenda

In 2025, gambling harm climbed higher on the UK agenda, from the Budget

to Parliament, the NHS, and local councils. First, money and regulation.

In Rachel Reeves’ Budget, the government set out big planned tax rises focused

on online gambling, including Remote Gaming Duty rising to 40% from April 2026,

and a new 25% rate for remote betting duty from April 2027. Then came the statutory

gambling levy. It started in April 2025 and government updates in December said it had raised

just under £120 million, replacing the old voluntary system and putting gambling

harm funding on a stable, mandatory footing. In Parliament, the Health and Social