CARE: tax betting firms more to tackle child poverty and gambling related harms

Leading social policy charity CARE today called for fairer and tougher taxes on the betting industry to raise funds to tackle both child poverty and gambling related harms.

It follows a new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) which argues that scrapping the two-child benefit cap could lift half a million children out of poverty.

According to the group, a range of fairer taxes on the betting industry would fully fund this. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has backed the idea.

Writing in the Guardian, Mr Brown laid out the case for fresh levies on high-stakes online gambling, slots and major betting firms, especially those based offshore to raise billions to help the 4.5 million children in some form of poverty. According to the government's own estimates, this is due to rise to 4.8 million by 2029.

Charity CARE, which has a history of advocacy for reforms to the gambling industry, today argued that fairer taxes could also raise enough to tackle gambling-related harms as well.

CARE's Director of Communications, James Mildred, said:

"Child poverty is a national emergency. Too many children go hungry and the government has a moral duty to act.

“Recent figures show the gambling industry rakes in billions in profit, but pays just a fraction of that yield in tax.

"By introducing tougher and fairer taxes, enough could be raised to help tackle both child poverty and gambling related harms.

“The UK should follow the example of other European countries and tax gambling companies at a higher rate.

“With the autumn budget approaching, now is the time for the government to give serious thought to a range of new taxes on high-stake, online slots and offshore betting firms.

“The government must decide: is it more intent on saving children from poverty or on cosying up to the gambling industry?”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For interview requests, further reaction, or background: james.mildred@care.org.uk/ 07717516814

CARE advocated for the maximum stake to be slashed on highly addictive fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). This was successful in 2018.

Recent gambling industry figures can be seen here: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/publication/industry-statistics-july-2025-correction-official-statistics

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