Irish Betting Tax Remains Unchanged in 2027

The Irish horse racing and betting sectors were among the winners in the Oct. 6 budget, with Horse Racing Ireland's funding due to increase by 3% to €81.6 million while the rate of betting tax has been left unchanged. This year, the overall Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund remained the same as it had been for 2025 at €99.1 million. HRI receives 80% of the overall pot, which will increase next year to €102 million, with its share up from €79.3 million and greyhound racing receiving €20.4 million. Given the significant budget demands arising out of the cost-of-living crisis and various other societal issues, the increase, which is broadly in keeping with inflation, will be seen as a boost for HRI, which recently announced a record number of fixtures for 2027 at 396. The rate of betting tax applied in Ireland will remain unchanged at 2% in 2027 following the budget, a situation that has been welcomed by the Irish Bookmakers Association. Ireland's betting duty is a turnover-based tax that doubled from 1% in 2019 and, in its submission for the 2027 budget, the IBA outlined that 222 betting shops have since closed and "roughly 1,000 retail jobs" have been lost as a result of that hike. In May, opposition party the Social Democrats had called for a 150% increase in betting duty to help fund sports and culture initiatives, but that plea has been ignored and it will remain as it is next year. However, with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland due to apply a new social impact fund levy from next year, concerns remain for the beleaguered high-street sector. "I got a message to say the betting tax is not changing," said Sharon Byrne, the IBA's chairwoman. "It's very important it wasn't raised because we aren't sure what level the new levy will come in at. "The licensing fees for the regulator are quite expensive for our members, so with the uncertainty around the level of the new levy, a further increase in the tax would not have been welcome. Too many shops are closing as it is and it would have been the final nail for a lot of operators." There has been a 46% reduction in betting shops in Ireland since 2008, with the number crashing from 1,385 to the current figure of 643, with 47 closures in 2025 and 41 already this year. Last month, Paddy Power announced it would shut 100 shops across its estate before the end of the year, with close to half of those expected to come in Ireland. Byrne reiterated the uncertainty for betting shops over the cost of the social impact levy. She said: "The rate at which that levy will be set has not been determined by the minister (Jim O'Callaghan, who serves as the minister for justice, home affairs and migration) just yet, so we aren't sure what that rate is going to be, whether it is 1, 2% or whatever. We don't know, but it is imminent, and we believe it will be charged from very early in the new year."