'That's Just Economics 101' - Learning from LiveScore's Experience of The Dutch Tax Fiasco
It's not death ... however it is taxing - Britain's betting industry lives on the leakages and rumours of the upcoming Budget, a state of play that is not healthy.
Horse racing appears to have scored a big win earlier this week when it was reported by the Telegraph that the heritage sport was going to be excused from tax hikes on wider wagering activities.
Yet with just two weeks to go until the Autumn Statement is provided, it comes across a meagre success in a battle of lobbying and tabloid headings surrounding this Labour government's 2nd budget plan.
The industry's arguments have actually been loud and clear for the past couple of months, with contrasts made with the Netherlands and the growing danger of the black market put as the counterpoint to tax increases. But with politicians appearing numb to the fracas of tabloid headlines, maybe the most effective proof needs to be taken from leadership and the stark choices facing them.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, operator of the LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet brand names along with its flagship LiveScore media app, directs a company with experience of both the UK and the Netherlands - a minimum of it did have experience of the latter until leaving this year.
"Our decision has been verified, and we have actually comprehended the direction of travel and the kind of ideology that the federal government, obviously related to the regulative body, has embraced," Sadi told SBC News.
"I think we do benefit today from having left earlier, since a great deal of capital was wasted in the country attempting to get to success."
Sadi talked to us at the SBC Summit in Lisbon this September when the tax debate was beginning to warm up with the speculation of tax increases above a GGR of 50%. At the time, he shared that at LiveScore 'we do not believe the UK government is going to act so irresponsib
It's not death ... however it is taxing - Britain's betting industry lives on the leakages and rumours of the upcoming Budget, a state of play that is not healthy.
Horse racing appears to have scored a big win earlier this week when it was reported by the Telegraph that the heritage sport was going to be excused from tax hikes on wider wagering activities.
Yet with just two weeks to go until the Autumn Statement is provided, it comes across a meagre success in a battle of lobbying and tabloid headings surrounding this Labour government's 2nd budget plan.
The industry's arguments have actually been loud and clear for the past couple of months, with contrasts made with the Netherlands and the growing danger of the black market put as the counterpoint to tax increases. But with politicians appearing numb to the fracas of tabloid headlines, maybe the most effective proof needs to be taken from leadership and the stark choices facing them.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, operator of the LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet brand names along with its flagship LiveScore media app, directs a company with experience of both the UK and the Netherlands - a minimum of it did have experience of the latter until leaving this year.
"Our decision has been verified, and we have actually comprehended the direction of travel and the kind of ideology that the federal government, obviously related to the regulative body, has embraced," Sadi told SBC News.
"I think we do benefit today from having left earlier, since a great deal of capital was wasted in the country attempting to get to success."
Sadi talked to us at the SBC Summit in Lisbon this September when the tax debate was beginning to warm up with the speculation of tax increases above a GGR of 50%. At the time, he shared that at LiveScore 'we do not believe the UK government is going to act so irresponsib