Entertainment

Government overreach or necessary Reform? The UK gambling tax divide

Published

3 months ago

September 9, 2025

The UK Gambling Commission has recently released its Q1 2025-26 figures. This release covers activity through June 2025 and has landed in the middle of a heated tax and regulation row. Many are looking at this report to see where money is flowing. From the report, we can see that digital play continues to dominate, which has led to many policy questions for ministers.

The most prominent question is how the government can protect consumers without throttling a sector that supports jobs and tax receipts. Although it might seem like an abstract debate to some, the conditions around these policies affect everyday choices on stake limits, product design, and, ultimately, how operators interact with customers.

As expected, online revenue led the pack. In the report, online gross gaming yield was £1.49 billion for the quarter, which was 2% higher than in Q1 2024-25. Year on year, bets and spins climbed to 26.1 million. This was even as average monthly active accounts decreased by 10% to 12.7 billion. According to Viola D’Elia, this decrease in active accounts could be due to the increased governance over online casinos in the UK.

Operators are required to adhere to more stringent account information policies, which could be one of the reasons many online casino users are favouring reputable non-UK sites. Alongside this, many of these users are also using offshore alternatives because they offer wider payment options, better promotions, and more diverse game catalogues. Many of these sites hold licenses in Malta or Curaçao and are known for providing more freedom to players, which is why they attract users who value flexible limits and faster onboarding.

Alongside seeking more flexibility, player behaviour shifted in other ways during the quarter. Sessions on online slots lasting more than an hour fell 9% to 8.8 million and now account for 5% of total play, down from 6% a year earlier. Average session length moved to 16 minutes, a one‑minute decline. The Commission noted that several operators refined how they measure a session, which can nudge the totals. Even with that caveat, shorter sessions hint at tighter controls and more active prompts that encourage breaks or end play after periods of intensity.

New limits on stakes arrived on 21 May and will shape the coming quarters. The rules set a £2 maximum per spin for adults aged 18 to 24 and £5 for those 25 and older. Policymakers designed the cap to slow rapid losses in high‑velocity games. Operators have adjusted staking ladders, pop‑ups, and risk checks to fit the framework. It is too early to draw sweeping conclusions. For now, the headline numbers show slots revenue growing while the system absorbs the cap and customers recalibrate how they play.

High street venues faced another tough spell. Betting premises GGY fell 5% year on year to £552 million, with bets and spins in shops down 3% to 3.2 billion. Footfall costs money, so declining volume bites hard when rents, staffing, and compliance bills keep rising. Several chains have trimmed opening hours, consolidated weaker locations, and pushed customers toward account‑based play that links shop terminals with digital wallets. The winners in retail will likely be operators that turn stores into service hubs rather than pure staking points.

These numbers pour fuel on the tax and regulation debate. The Treasury wants dependable receipts. Consumer groups want limits that keep harm down. Operators warn that layered controls, higher costs, and point‑of‑consumption taxes can push heavy users to foreign platforms and reduce domestic spend. The risk is leakage: a slice of play drifts offshore, lowering taxable GGY while exposing players to uneven dispute resolution. Policymakers must weigh that leakage against the benefits of firmer guardrails.

A targeted path has supporters across the aisle. Better data sharing on markers of harm, proportionate affordability checks that focus on outliers, and faster interventions when spending patterns deteriorate can protect at‑risk customers without blanketing everyone in friction. Privacy needs respect, as does the right of adults to spend their money within the law. The Commission’s quarterly cadence helps here. It gives Parliament and industry a common set of figures to judge whether rules curb harm without distorting the market.

The months ahead will test that balance. Slots GGY and total spins hit fresh peaks in Q1, even as long sessions eased and stake caps bedded in after May. Sports betting may rebound with a stronger event calendar, yet it must compete with casino formats that deliver constant availability and quick outcomes. The tax argument will then rest on evidence, not noise.

Entertainment

Filming for new season of S4C crime drama Cleddau returns to Pembrokeshire

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Production crew spotted in Pembroke Dock, Neyland and Burton as series set for 2026 release

FILMING has returned to Pembrokeshire this week for the next season of Cleddau — the hit S4C crime drama released in English as The One That Got Away.

The production crew has been seen in Pembroke Dock, Neyland and Burton capturing new scenes for the upcoming 2026 series. Local photographer Gareth Davies shared images of the team working along the estuary, describing “a real buzz” in the area as cast and crew returned after the success of the first season.

Crime thriller rooted in the Cleddau estuary

Cleddau follows a murder investigation that reopens buried secrets in a quiet west Wales community. The show has been praised for its atmospheric storytelling, strong performances and striking use of local Pembrokeshire scenery — with the Cleddau estuary itself forming a central part of the series’ identity.

Residents have reported seeing cameras and production vehicles around familiar walking routes, waterfront areas and estuary-side villages as the crew makes full use of the landscape that inspired the show’s name.

Local interest and economic boost

The return of filming has been welcomed locally, bringing attention, visitors and activity into communities along the waterway. For many residents, the excitement lies in spotting familiar places on screen when the new season airs next year.

The new series of Cleddau is expected to be broadcast in 2026.

Entertainment

Cardigan Theatre brings Beauty and the Beast to Mwldan this Christmas

Published

3 days ago

December 1, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Festive panto promises magic, music and family fun

CARDIGAN Theatre is set to bring festive magic to Theatre Mwldan this Christmas with a fun-filled production of Beauty and the Beast, running from 21–29 December. The pantomime is written and directed by Jonathon Preece and promises all the traditional panto sparkle audiences love.

The story follows once-proud Prince Louis (Emily Davies), who angers Agatha the Evil Enchantress (Kelly Lewis). As punishment for his selfishness, she transforms him into the fearsome Beast (Steve Green). His only hope of breaking the spell is to find true love – or remain a beast forever.

Meanwhile, brave and kind-hearted Belle (Ruby Lemoine) sets out to rescue her eccentric father Marcel (Tom Loveday) who on his way to the “Big Invention Competition”, gets lost and stumbles into the enchanted castle and is taken prisoner by the Beast. Determined to save him, Belle is joined by her loyal friend Jaques, the village silly billy (Sarah Harris), flamboyant Dame Madam Fromage (Rhys Davies), and Gavin (Paul Robinson), the vain village heart-throb who is convinced Belle should marry him!

Inside the castle, Belle encounters a host of enchanted objects, including Tick Tock (Lilwen), Flambe (Bryce), and Mrs Kettle (Manon), who provide humour, magic and plenty of encouragement as they try to help the Beast win Belle’s heart and break Agatha’s curse.

With songs, jokes, colourful characters and plenty of audience participation, the production promises festive fun for all ages.

Beauty and the Beast runs at Theatre Mwldan from 21–29 December. Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

Cardigan Theatre can be followed on Facebook and Instagram for updates on future shows.

Entertainment

Glow returns to Carew Castle with magical illuminations and Santa’s grotto

Published

4 days ago

November 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CAREW CASTLE and Tidal Mill has launched its annual Christmas spectacular, with the first night of Glow transforming the historic fortress into a shimmering winter wonderland.

The medieval walls are now bathed in colour, with vivid light displays bringing new life to one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic landmarks. Visitors on opening night were greeted by glowing ramparts, candlelit walkways and festive scenes created inside the castle rooms, including a decorated Christmas tree, a stained-glass style installation and a traditional medieval feast display.

Glow runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4:30pm to 7:30pm until 14 December, offering families the chance to explore the castle after dark in a way that is rarely possible. The illuminated trail has become one of the county’s most popular seasonal attractions, drawing visitors from across West Wales.

A major highlight for younger visitors arrives this weekend, as Santa sets up his magical grotto inside the castle walls. Children can meet Father Christmas every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm until 14 December, with each child receiving a gift. Organisers say booking is essential, with limited spaces available.

Carew Castle’s team said they have worked for weeks to prepare the site for the festive season, aiming to create a magical experience for families and returning visitors. Early reactions from guests at the launch night suggest the event could be one of the strongest yet.

Tickets for both Glow and Santa’s Grotto can be booked via events.pembrokeshirecoast.wales.