The betting industry had warned that thousands of high street betting shops would be under threat of closure had taxes been raised on in-person gambling

Fears of a marked rise in betting duty on racing have been allayed in the Budget announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves , although tax on other forms of gambling will be increased. A new rate of general betting duty for remote betting will be introduced at 25 per cent but self-service betting terminals, spread betting, pool bets and horse racing remain unchanged at 15 per cent.

The racing industry had campaigned against the idea of harmonising gambling duties, cancelling all race meetings on September 10 on an unprecedented day of strike action which culminated in a British Horseracing Authority-led 'Axe The Racing Tax' event in Wes

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