Britain targets gambling industry to increase taxes

Hammond told parliament he plans to increase the so-called Remote Gaming Duty paid by overseas operators who offer online casino-type games such as blackjack to 21 per cent from its current level of 15 per cent.

Britain's finance minister Philip Hammond announced on Monday plans to increase taxes paid by offshore gambling companies from next year to offset lost tax revenue from cutting the amount that can be staked on fixed-odds betting terminals.

Hammond told parliament he plans to increase the so-called Remote Gaming Duty paid by overseas operators who offer online casino-type games such as blackjack to 21 per cent from its current level of 15 per cent.

"I can confirm that we will increase Remote Gaming Duty on online games of chance, to 21 per cent in order to fund the loss of revenue as we reduce FOBT stakes to 2 pounds," Hammond told parliament.