Budget 2025

Irish Bookmakers Association | Budget 2025 Submission

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) has submitted its detailed Budget 2025 submission to the Minister for Finance, highlighting key issues impacting the betting sector in Ireland. The betting industry contributing over €171 million to the exchequer annually and employing more than 6,000 people across the country.

The IBA has called upon the government to delay any fiscal adjustments, and avoid further turmoil for the sector, until a comprehensive understanding of the cumulative financial demands facing the industry is ascertained. Doing so will prevent the potential exodus of established legal operators, safeguard consumers, deter proliferation of illegal gambling operators, and maintain exchequer contributions.

 

Key points from IBA budget 2025 submission:

• The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) represents the majority of betting shops in Ireland, in addition to online betting operators in the Irish market including bet365, Boylesports, Entain, Flutter and many others.
• The betting sector employs over 6,000 people across Ireland and contributes over €171.2m to the exchequer.
• Between the announcement of the 100% betting tax increase in Budget 2019 and 2023, there have been 127 betting shop closures. Under the current betting tax regime and the looming introduction of significant regulation costs, our expectation is that the number of shops will continue to decline.
• The profitability landscape for traditional retail betting in Ireland is an extremely challenging one, with very low profitability and losses being a common occurrence.
• It is crucial to foster a fiscal and regulatory environment that provides for optimal consumer protection and experience, while also ensuring the sustainability of licensed operators. This equilibrium is critical to safeguard against the proliferation of black-market entities, ensuring that the sector can continue to make positive contributions to Ireland’s economy, while promoting a safe and responsible gambling environment.
• The government’s plan to regulate the gambling industry in Ireland is a positive step towards creating a safer and sustainable market. It is crucial that any review or change in taxation rates is done holistically and not piecemeal or in isolation.
• We urge the government to consider the overall cost structure of the industry, including taxation rates, licence fees, and looming compliance costs, before making changes to the current betting tax rate, to ensure that operators can continue to operate commercially and contribute to a safe and sustainable market.

To download a copy of the Irish Bookmakers Assocations’ Budget Submission, please click here.