Dawn Butler named Vice Chair of gambling reform APPG

Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Gambling Reform All-Party Parliamentary Group (GR APPG), SBC News reported, as lobbying intensifies around UK gambling taxation.

Butler has been a prominent voice calling for tighter government oversight of gambling, with a particular focus on player protection in land-based venues. She played a significant part in opposing the so-called 'Aim to Permit' rule, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham later withdrew, handing local authorities greater say over licensing betting premises in their areas.

The GR APPG said in a statement that it was "delighted to have Dawn take on this new role" and looked forward to continuing work "to deliver stronger protections for individuals, families and communities across the UK."

Her elevation comes as the APPG steps up pressure on ministers. Co-Chair Alex Ballinger MP has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, backed by 90 Labour MPs, urging an increase to Machine Games Duty (MGD) in next week's Budget.

Supporters of a rise argue that higher duty on gaming machines would help fund public services affected by the social costs of gambling harm. The industry has pointed to safer-gambling design measures already in place, while warning that further tax rises, layered on top of changes introduced in 2025, would hit jobs across betting shops and damage wider high street economies.

Reports suggest Healey is considering capping any MGD increase at 25%.

Retail operators have pushed back hard in recent weeks. The Betting and Gaming Council and major bookmakers, including Entain, have been vocal opponents of a duty increase.

Entain, owner of Coral and Ladbrokes, published new YouGov research on the day of Butler's appointment showing that 90% of betting shop customers also spend money in nearby businesses during the same visit. The survey covered 1,475 UK adults.

More than half of respondents, 54%, said they combined a betting shop visit with other spending on most or nearly every trip, while over two-thirds agreed that bookmakers play an important role in sustaining high street activity.

Bejay Patel, Managing Director for UK and Ireland at Entain Group, said the findings backed up what the company's staff already understood, adding: "We need to recognise the important contribution betting shops make to our economy and local communities alike."

The research forms part of Entain's 'What's at Stake' campaign, launched to oppose further gambling tax rises that the company says risk accelerating shop closures and job losses already under way following last year's Budget changes.