Scottish Greens Propose New Tax on Gambling Establishments

(AsiaGameHub) –   The party has committed in its manifesto to introducing a new charge on all physical gambling venues.

UK.- The Scottish Greens have included a plan for a levy on gambling establishments in their 2026 manifesto. The income generated would be directed to public health measures aimed at addressing gambling-related harm.

The plan would involve charging casinos, bookmakers and other land-based operators an extra fee via non-domestic business rates. According to the party, the money would be designated for addiction prevention, recovery programs, and broader support services. This would be separate from the UK-wide gambling levy that was applied to all operators starting in April of last year.

Party co-leader Gillian Mackay stated the reasoning: “Far too many gambling companies make their money by exploiting vulnerability and addiction, while communities, families and public services are left to deal with the consequences.”

Mackay added: “Our plan is about putting responsibility back where it belongs. Simply put, if a company is profiting from addiction and harm, then it should not be allowed to walk away from the social cost.”

Despite being smaller than the SNP and Labour, the Greens hold a degree of influence in Scottish politics. From 2021 to 2024, two of their MSPs held ministerial positions as part of a coalition agreement with the SNP. The party backed the law that prohibited greyhound racing in Scotland, which was enacted last year. Recent polls indicate the Greens may win as many as 17 seats, which could make them the second-largest party in Scotland.

In addition to the levy, the Scottish Greens are also advocating for a ban gambling sponsorships in sports. This type of policy would impact several of Scotland’s major sporting bodies. The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has William Hill as a sponsor, while Celtic and Rangers have Dafabet and Unibet on their shirts, respectively. Entain’s Coral is the sponsor of the Scottish Grand National.

A voluntary prohibition on front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships is set to begin in the English Premier League next season, but no comparable arrangement has been made for Scottish football.