Menu

Flutter CEO warns of gambling tax hikes

Flutter CEO warns of gambling tax hikes

In an interview with the Financial Times, Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson has warned of the increase in gambling tax in the United States. Jackson also indicated that his comments also apply to a possible increase in the United Kingdom.

Gambling tax has been a hot topic in the Netherlands in the past six months, after the new government proposed an increase in its coalition agreement. The government eventually decided to increase the gambling tax in two steps from 30.5% to 37.8% in 2026.

But it is not only in the Netherlands that the increase in gambling tax is a topic of discussion. The government in France has decided not to increase the gambling tax for the time being, while the Swedish government is reconsidering an earlier increase.

At the same time, Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson has expressed his concerns in an interview with the Financial Times about US states that have increased taxes on sports betting.Flutter Entertainment owns FanDuel, one of the largest sports betting providers in the United States. In his interview with the Financial Times, he responds to the recent increases in gambling taxes in Illinois and Ohio, among others. Lawmakers in New Jersey have also proposed raising the gambling tax to 30%, up from 13% (sports betting) and 15% (online casino games).

“If you set taxes too high, people will use illegal operators and tax revenues will fall. If the US states are really trying to maximize their tax revenues, they should think very carefully about raising tax rates.”

Peter Jackson, CEO Flutter

The day after his interview in the Financial Times, Jackson also responded on his own LinkedIn page to the rumors surrounding the increase in gambling tax in the United Kingdom. The political party Labour is considering an increase from 21% to 50%, which should bring in £3 billion (€3.58 billion) for the state coffers.

In his response, the Flutter CEO indicates that his comments can also be applied to the United Kingdom. Jackson explains that too high a tax rate will lead to less competition, a weakening of the offer for players, and ultimately a reduction in tax revenue.

Relevant news