The gambling industry provides a lifeline for sport and communities
The Scottish Premier League is now sponsored by betting company William Hill (Alamy)
4 min read
Each month, half the UK adult population enjoys some sort of bet. That’s 22.5m people having a punt on the lottery, in bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets, casinos, bingo halls and online, and the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly.
Betting and sport have always gone hand in hand – from horse racing to football, snooker to darts. What’s changed in recent years is the scale of investment flowing from regulated betting companies into sport, supporting everything from elite competitions to grassroots participation.
This investment has helped the UK become a world leader in both sport and regulated betting – a success story that benefits fans, players, and the wider economy.
In my constituency of Glenrothes and Mid Fife and across Scotland, I see this in action. Modern betting shops provide jobs and footfall on high streets that have struggled in recent years, including in the town centre in my own constituency.
The Scottish Premier League, meanwhile, is now sponsored by William Hill in a record-breaking deal spanning all four tiers of the professional game – a genuine lifeline for clubs and communities that live and breathe football.
Crucially, this is not just about money – it’s also about responsibility. The William Hill deal includes a nationwide programme of safer gambling education run by Epic Global Solutions, reaching all 42 clubs and hundreds of players and staff. It’s a clear example of how regulated operators can support sport while also promoting safer gambling practices. When I visited East Fife Football Club’s training where Epic ran a session with the players on the risks of gambling addiction in football, I was hugely impressed by the power of the message they communicated to the players.
The regulated betting and gaming sector contributes over £6.8bn a year to the economy
I have come across instances where people’s lives have been deeply affected by gambling addiction and in particular through the actions of those companies who have not signed up to the industry’s own Safer Gambling committments. We must do more on this issue. But for most people, betting is a normal part of their leisure time, and the industry contributes billions in tax and thousands of jobs, while supporting vital causes including sport.
No-one disputes the need to keep tax policy under review. But any reform must be carefully considered along with any potential unintended consequences – not just for the sector itself, but for the sports and communities that benefit from it.
Currently the regulated betting and gaming sector contributes over £6.8bn a year to the economy, generates £4bn in tax, and supports 109,000 jobs – many of them in towns like Glenrothes, where every job matters. It also underpins the financial model of many sports, helping clubs stay afloat and thrive.
Just as importantly, the regulated sector provides vital consumer protections. It is important consider how by making betting too expensive, some punters may pushed toward the unregulated black market – where there are no safer gambling checks, no safer gambling tools, and no support for sport or the UK economy. Already, an estimated 1.5m Britons stake up to £4.3 bn annually with black market operators. Tackling this black market economy in gambling, ensuring that consumers are protected and that these profits are properly taxed should be a priority for government.
As is the case when looking at all tax changes for industries in raising short-term revenue, it is vital to consider the impact on jobs, future tax income, and for the gambling industry the importance of funding provided for sport as well as the potential to expose consumers to greater harm.
As a Labour MP, I want a tax regime that is fair, progressive and economically sound – one that protects the public, supports jobs, and rewards responsibility. More than ever, we need businesses that are investing and contributing, just as William Hill is doing with the SPFL and Epic.
If we want thriving high streets, strong communities, world-class sport, and a safe environment for those who choose to bet, then we must ensure that our tax regime supports a sustainable, regulated betting market.
Richard Baker is Labour MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife
