Tax Rises Add Pressure
Betfred owner Fred Done’s reported restructuring of his property interests in Jersey has drawn fresh attention to tax pressure on UK-facing gambling operators.
Gambling Insider reported that Done moved his property group to Jersey in March, before changes to UK inheritance tax rules affecting family-owned businesses. The report said the move related to Done’s property interests, not Betfred’s gambling operations.
The timing has placed the story in a wider gambling-sector context. UK online operators are facing higher duties after Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026.
A new 25% remote rate within General Betting Duty is also scheduled to apply from 1 April 2027, excluding remote bets on UK horseracing.
The House of Commons Library has said the gambling duty changes are expected to raise £810m in 2026/27, rising to £1.16bn by 2030/31.
Betfred Distinction Remains Important
For operators such as Betfred, which combines online betting and gaming with a large UK high street estate, the tax changes add to existing cost pressures.
Retail betting shops remain tied to domestic property, staffing and operating costs, while some corporate or commercial functions in the wider sector have faced scrutiny over offshore structures.
There is no indication from the Gambling Insider report that Betfred has moved its gambling operations offshore.
Wider Sector Scrutiny
The debate has already extended beyond Betfred. Tax Policy Associates previously examined Sky Bet’s move of some commercial and marketing functions to Malta, estimating that the arrangement could save around £55m a year in UK tax.
Flutter, Sky Bet’s owner, has said the move was made for operational efficiency and that Sky Bet continues to pay UK corporation tax on its profits.
Done’s reported Jersey restructuring comes at a sensitive time for the sector, as operators assess how higher UK gambling duties could affect margins, retail estates and long-term operating models.
The issue is likely to remain under scrutiny as the government seeks more revenue from online gambling while aiming to keep customers within the regulated UK market.
