Policy paper

Changes to casino gross gaming yield bands for Gaming Duty from 1 April 2020

Published 11 March 2020

Who is likely to be affected

UK casino operators.

General description of the measure

This measure will increase the gross gaming yield (GGY) bands for gaming duty in line with inflation.

Policy objective

The measure will ensure that the gaming duty accounted for by the casino operators is maintained at real levels and does not increase simply on account of inflation.

Background to the measure

Gaming duty is paid by casinos on their gross gaming yield which can broadly be defined as the amounts staked by customers minus winnings paid to them. The duty is calculated by reference to bands of GGY. As the GGY increases, so the rate applied to calculate the duty increases.

The rates range from 15% which is applied to the first 2,471,000 of GGY, up to 50%. The 50% rate applies to any GGY above £13,454,000 If the bandings were not increased in line with inflation then over time more GGY would be subject to higher rates.

Detailed proposal

Operative date

The increase to gaming duty bands will have effect for gaming duty accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2020.

Current law

Current law is contained in the table at section 11(2) of the Finance Act (FA) 1997. The bandings were last amended by section 45 of Finance (No.2) Act 2017.

Proposed revisions

Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2020 to increase the GGY values in section 11(2) FA 1997. These bandings cover a six month accounting period and businesses liable to gaming duty are required to submit a return at the end of each period, using the GGY bandings to calculate their gaming duty liability.

Summary of impacts

Exchequer impact

2019 to 2020 2020 to 2021 2021 to 2022 2022 to 2023 2023 to 2024 2024 to 2025
- nil nil nil nil nil

This measure is not expected to have an Exchequer impact.

Economic impact

This measure is not expected to have any significant economic impacts.

Impact on individuals, households and families

This measure is not expected to have a direct impact on the availability, price and pay-outs of casino gaming for individuals. There is expected to be no impact on family formation, stability or breakdown.

Equalities impacts

This measure is not expected to have any impacts on any groups sharing protected characteristics.

Impact on business including civil society organisations

This measure is expected to have a negligible impact on approximately 50 casino operators by increasing the GGY bands for gaming duty in line with inflation. One-off costs include familiarisation with the change and will also include updating internal systems to reflect the new GGY values. There are not expected to be any ongoing costs. Customer experience is expected to remain broadly the same as this measure is only making a change to the GGY bands. This measure is not expected to impact on civil society organisations.

Operational impact (£m) (HMRC or other)

There will be no significant operational impact on HMRC.

Other impacts

Other impacts have been considered and none have been identified.

Monitoring and evaluation

This measure will be monitored through information collected from tax returns.

Further advice

If you have any questions about this change, please contact John Waller on Telephone: 03000 588063 or email: john.c.waller@hmrc.gov.uk