One in five small betting shops shut since tax hike, claims IBA

Electronic displays at a Paddy Power bookmakers Picture: Bloomberg

One in five of Ireland’s independent bookmakers has closed since the government doubled the betting tax to 2 per cent last year, a lobby group has said.

Bookmakers have repeatedly told the government in recent months that the increase has wreaked havoc on retail returns.

In a pre-budget submission calling for a reversal of the increase, Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) chairwoman Sharon Byrne wrote: “The 100 per cent increase in betting tax has ...