UK online casino duty rises from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026

Remote Gaming Duty, the UK tax on online casino and slots, rose from 21% to 40% from April 2026. The increase was announced in the Autumn Budget of 26 November 2025, according to iGamingBusiness, Price Bailey and Avalara.

The 19-percentage-point rise is described as the steepest single rise in UK gambling taxation since Remote Gaming Duty began.

A new 25% General Betting Duty on remote betting applies from April 2027. It excludes self-service terminals, spread betting, pool betting and horseracing. Bingo Duty, set at 10%, is abolished from April 2026, and Casino Gaming Duty is frozen for 2026-27.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) assumes that operators will pass on about 90% of the increase to customers, through prices or lower payouts. That assumption cuts the expected tax yield by roughly one third.

In practice, that means the headline rate does not translate one-for-one into extra revenue for the government, because forecasters expect behaviour and pricing to adjust.

Key dates:

• 26 November 2025: rise announced in the Autumn Budget
• April 2026: Remote Gaming Duty goes from 21% to 40%; Bingo Duty abolished; Casino Gaming Duty frozen for 2026-27
• April 2027: 25% General Betting Duty on remote betting begins

The new 40% rate is almost double the old 21% rate. Among the changes announced, Bingo Duty is the only duty abolished outright, while Casino Gaming Duty is held at its current rate for 2026-27.

In context: the new rate applies to online casino and slots, while the betting duty change follows a year later.

18+ only. This article is for information, not advice to gamble. Responsible gambling.