Majority of Britons back increased tax on online gambling as calls for reform grow ahead of Autumn Budget

New polls suggest that more than half of Britons (52%) support increasing taxes on online gambling, with many prioritizing a rise in gambling fees over other taxes such as income tax, VAT and fuel excise.

It comes as the Social Market Foundation (SMF) releases a report calling for a significant increase in remote gaming duties from 21% to 42%, which could generate up to £900 million for the Treasury.

Online gambling, particularly casino games, has been linked to high rates of harm, with financial costs estimated at more than £1 billion. The SMF report, written by Dr James Noyes and Dr Avik Bhattacharya, says the sector is currently suffering from low taxes, and highlights that UK operators pay higher taxes in other countries.

With the UK facing a fiscal deficit of £22 billion, the report urges the government to seize this opportunity, restructuring the outdated tax system and tackling the social costs associated with gambling.