Former UK PM Brown Urges Doubling Gambling Taxes to Fight Child Poverty

Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has renewed calls to significantly increase taxes on the gambling industry, particularly targeting online casinos and slot machines, with proposals suggesting rates as high as 50%. Brown and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) argue that the additional revenue, estimated at £3.2 billion annually, could be used to alleviate child poverty by lifting benefit caps that currently limit support to two children per family. Brown emphasizes gambling's societal harms and the industry's tax advantages, while critics like the Betting and Gaming Council warn that higher taxes could drive consumers to unregulated black markets, potentially reducing tax revenue and consumer protections. In Northern Ireland, the Christian Institute opposes the expansion of society lotteries, highlighting concerns that gambling advertising and participation pose significant risks, even when proceeds support community causes. The Treasury is reportedly considering consolidating online betting duties into a single rate, aligning with efforts to tax the most profitable gambling sectors more heavily. This coordinated campaign reflects ongoing debates on balancing gambling regulation, taxation fairness, and social welfare funding.