Ladbrokes report highlights importance of gambling to UK

A report from Deloitte accountants that was commissioned by the UK bookmakers Ladbrokes has revealed some surprising facts about the UK gambling industry. According to the report, over 100,000 people are employed by the betting industry in the UK, and overall it contributes £6 billion to the UK economy.

The report reveals that gambling actually plays a more important role than previously realized in the UK economy. Betting shops alone provide a £2.2 billion economic impact, with other forms of gambling such as over the phone and internet making up a sizeable portion. The industry sustains over 40,000 jobs directly and over 60,000 indirectly.

The betting industry is usually a target for paying increased levels of tax. But the Ladbrokes report has revealed that 23 percent of betting shops in the UK make less than £17,000 profit annually, meaning further tax rises could force them to shut, placing 8,600 betting shops at risk.

Chris Bell, who will stand down as the chief executive of Ladbrokes this summer, said that “politicians have been very surprised by how much tax we pay and how many people we employ.” He is hoping that the report will go some way to prevent politicians from scoring “cheap political points” when it comes to making decisions on tax.


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