Betfred Ends Rugby League Sponsorship, Threatens Racing Amid Tax Concerns

Betfred, owned by Fred Done, has announced the cessation of its rugby league sponsorship after nearly a decade, citing potential new gambling taxes. The company also indicated it might withdraw financial support for British horseracing if upcoming Budget decisions increase machine gaming duty.

What Happened

Fred Done, owner of the British company Betfred, confirmed his firm would end its nearly decade-long sponsorship of rugby league (Dailymail.com). Done stated this decision was influenced by potential new taxes on the gambling industry, particularly after former Chancellor Rachel Reeves reportedly almost doubled online gaming duty in the previous year’s Budget (Dailymail.com).

Done expressed regret over ending the rugby league sponsorship but warned that further tax increases could lead to significant negative impacts on the industry. He specifically noted that Betfred might also withdraw its sponsorship of British Classics horseracing events if the October Budget introduces unfavorable changes to machine gaming duty (Dailymail.com).

Key Details

• Betfred’s sponsorship of rugby league has concluded after nearly ten years (Dailymail.com).
• Fred Done, Betfred’s owner, stated the company had a verbal agreement to renew its British Classics horseracing sponsorship for three years, but this is contingent on the outcome of the October Budget regarding machine gaming duty (Dailymail.com).
• Done warned that an increase in machine gaming duty could result in Betfred closing 495 shops and cutting 2,475 jobs (Dailymail.com).
• Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has advocated for increases to machine gaming duty, proposing the funds be used for a crisis and resilience fund (Dailymail.com).

Why It Matters

This development impacts sports financing, particularly for rugby league and horseracing in the UK, which rely on commercial sponsorships (Dailymail.com). The potential withdrawal of a major sponsor like Betfred could necessitate new funding models for these sports. The broader implications extend to the gambling industry, where increased taxation could lead to reduced investment, job losses, and shop closures, as articulated by Fred Done (Dailymail.com).

The situation highlights the tension between government revenue generation through taxation and the economic viability of regulated industries. Decisions made in the upcoming Budget concerning machine gaming duty are expected to have direct consequences for betting operators and the sports they support (Dailymail.com).

What’s Next

The future of Betfred’s sponsorship of the British Classics horseracing events hinges on the decisions made in the October Budget regarding machine gaming duty (Dailymail.com). The Treasury has stated that the Chancellor is focused on economic priorities including supporting families and businesses, backing British jobs, and driving growth, underpinned by a commitment to fiscal rules (Dailymail.com).

Originally reported by Dailymail.com·Published 19 Sep 2026, 20:23