SBC on the Airwaves: UK takes centre stage

Besides the in-depth news stories that we produce everyday to keep global gambling stakeholders informed, another one of SBC’s darlings in terms of content creation is our iGaming Daily podcast.

Over 650 episodes in, the team behind the microphone has time and time again dived deep into some of the most important developments for the gambling industry. And while we’re taking time off air for the holiday period, the show will continue even stronger in the new year. 

But while you’re holding your breath, why not take a look at some of the podcast’s biggest highlights from the past 12 months?

Gambling taxes went up in the UK, now what?

The biggest story coming out of the UK this year was the announcement of the 2026 Budget, which had a direct impact on the regional gambling sector. Some businesses were spared a tax increase, whilst others will have to face bigger tax burdens as we go into the new year.

Specific tax changes announced by Rachel Reeves saw the Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) for operators almost doubling from 21% to 40%, meanwhile online betting will be taxed at 25% coming 2027 from the previous rate of 15%.

Dan Waugh, Partner at Regulus Partners, offered a comprehensive comment on how this will likely remap the industry in the UK, predicting that the tax hikes will create a “far less attractive market” that will continue eroding with time – with small to medium-sized operators gradually starting to leave, and taxes most likely also having an adverse effect on big players.

There was still some good news, with no changes introduced to in-person and horse racing betting duty, and bingo duty going away completely from April 2026. Still, the Office for Budget Responsibility itself reported that 90% of the rest from the added costs will  most likely be passed on to consumers.

With Waugh also agreeing that what happens next in the market will be driven by consumer behaviour, he highlighted that despite this, the voice of the recreational consumers is still not being represented adequately when it comes to high-level decision making affecting the industry.

The black market keeps lurking from the shadows

In the build up to the industry’s biggest event, SBC Summit Lisbon, our team launched the ‘Road to Lisbon’ series, where we had one-to-one interviews with some of the biggest gambling stakeholders that have the power to shape sector policies.

One such interview was with Alex Roberts, the Director of Policy at trade body Betting and Gaming Council, which explored the threat of the black market and concluded that it is a “huge risk” to UK consumers and operators alike.

Whilst currently channelisation rates in the UK are in a relatively stable state compared to other international jurisdictions – and it’s important to highlight that – Roberts pointed out that it is very easy to tip the scales over, primarily due to the ease of access consumers have to black market operators.

This ties in with the Waugh interview in the way that if something makes the regulated market unattractive – much like the costs of the tax increases being transferred to the consumers – it is very easy for a player to go offshore instead.

The solution to that is simple – create a diverse and attractive regulated product. But it is also just as simple to take on a regulatory path that takes this away, Roberts added.

All in all, innovation and growth is nurtured by an environment where licensed operators are encouraged to satisfy the wants of their consumers, whilst not being threatened by increasing restrictions hanging over their heads – just as what the Budget’s announcement was widely seen as.

It remains to be seen whether that will be the way for the UK sectors moving forward, or whether things will turn for the worse for one of the most liberalised markets in the world. 

Australia could prove costly for Entain

Another one of the bigger stories that we covered this year was a damning report from authorities in Australia concerning the second-largest gambling multinational brand in the world, Entain.

An investigation dating back to December 2024 by the Australian financial watchdog, Austrac, into potential money-laundering breaches resulted in a 640-page report published earlier this year that highlighted alleged shortcomings on Entain’s side – the most serious being failure to engage with a high-spender connected to an international drug trafficker.

SBC reached out for a comment and managed to get one from Stella David, CEO of Entain, who said: “We are taking these allegations extremely seriously and continue to fully cooperate with Austrac. 

“We are committed to keeping financial crime out of gambling and will continue to play our part in supporting a well-regulated sector for customers, stakeholders and the wider community.”

With the legal proceedings still ongoing, Entain has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to compliance, announcing a new Entain Australia CEO in August whilst increasing the number of its specialised AML personnel.

All customer accounts identified in the Austrac report were closed down by Entain, together with the complete removal of its cash-deposit channels, which were described by the financial watchdog as easily exploitable.

Such a high-profile case could spark the debate around Australia’s fragmented gambling regulations moving into next year. 

Austrac currently deals with financial fraud and money-laundering concerns, while the Australian Communications and Media Authority is in charge of all types of marketing. There is no unified gambling regulator, with both bodies overseeing the gambling sector as well.

PM Anthony Albanese has lately found himself under pressure from reformists who are calling for a reshape of the gambling industry in Australia, the result of which could bring a unified regulator with it.