The online gambling industry has grown exponentially in the last few years. Using new technology like artificial intelligence, faster transactions with the addition of cryptocurrencies to payment methods, and the added accessibility on all personal electronic devices has seen a surge in online gambling in the United Kingdom and Europe. The gambling industry is one of the largest and most profitable in the UK, which is why it is taxed and regulated. Industry leaders like AmazonSlots UK must adhere to strict rules and provide a standard series of gambling tools to enable them to detect problematic gamblers as early as possible.
Convenience
With only a few clicks, from the comfort of the couch in their own living room, Brits can access their favourite online gambling sites. In a world where safety and convenience are paramount, online gambling has seen a significant increase in users. New technologies aid in faster and more secure payment methods, ease of access via personal mobiles, and protection of personal information.
Revenue and Taxes
Strict control is obviously needed and regulating the online gambling industry is a much better strategy than banning it all together. By 2018, over 36.6 million Brits were engaged in online gaming and gambling, which yielded close to £14 billion in gross revenues for the year. Numbers have been on the rise, and by the end of 2018, online gambling tax revenue had increased to 38.8% of overall gambling revenue. That is a whopping £5.6 billion, which trumps all forms of lotteries, land-based casinos, ever-popular bingo halls, and traditional betting shops.
For the fiscal tax year of 2020 to 2021, the treasury received £2.83 billion from the online gambling industry alone. That’s almost double the tax revenue received in 2000. In the year 2000, the UK government changed the laws pertaining to how citizens are taxed on earnings received from gambling. Gambling is seen as a form of entertainment and should be taxed appropriately. Therefore, the burden has shifted to the online gambling operators instead. They have significantly lower overheads, as staffing costs are much less than their land-based counterparts.
Avoiding taxes is a common problem, and the industry has been set up to ensure that the country benefits from its citizens’ entertainment activities. Consumption tax has been raised from 15% to 21%, and every penny is allocated back to local communities and public funds.
The industry is heavily regulated, and annual reports are conducted by the UKGC, which monitors the online gambling market to constantly improve the industry and adjust to cater to the British population’s needs. The UKGC has taken the industry into a new era of transparency and safe business practice. The system works even in worst-case scenarios, where unpaid taxes are returned to the UK Treasury and applied to libraries, schools, and hospitals.
While many still see gambling as a taboo, public perception has become more favourable due to the advantages of extra revenue and the resulting positive impact on local services.
