Rob Davies
@byrobdavies.bsky.social
Guardian reporter.
DM me with tips or for Signal/Protonmail/PGP (NO PR PITCHES)
Spurs fan (mute #thfc #coys to avoid).
Author of Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain.
DM me with tips or for Signal/Protonmail/PGP (NO PR PITCHES)
Spurs fan (mute #thfc #coys to avoid).
Author of Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain.
Here we go. Three gambling firms have now updated investors on the impact of the Chancellor's duty rises after the market closed.
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Looks like the market may have misjudged how gambling firms will be affected by the rise in duties announced by the Chancellor.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
November 26, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Here we go. Three gambling firms have now updated investors on the impact of the Chancellor's duty rises after the market closed.
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Looks like the market may have misjudged how gambling firms will be affected by the rise in duties announced by the Chancellor.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
November 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Looks like the market may have misjudged how gambling firms will be affected by the rise in duties announced by the Chancellor.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
As the person live-updating the Guardian's "at a glance" Budget story, may I thank whoever at the OBR accidentally published the forecasts early and offer them dinner on me, should they end up experiencing cashflow problems in the immediate future for any reason.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Budget 2025: key points at a glance
Rachel Reeves is announcing her financial update – here are the main points, with political analysis
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
As the person live-updating the Guardian's "at a glance" Budget story, may I thank whoever at the OBR accidentally published the forecasts early and offer them dinner on me, should they end up experiencing cashflow problems in the immediate future for any reason.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Thoughts on gambling duty rises.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Thoughts on gambling duty rises.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
Reposted by Rob Davies
Can’t wait until tomorrow, when the kite flying about the next budget can start afresh - only 364 sleeps to go 😬
November 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Can’t wait until tomorrow, when the kite flying about the next budget can start afresh - only 364 sleeps to go 😬
The annual gambling stats report from the regulator, the day before a Budget in which the industry is trying to resist a tax grab on online gambling.
Online gross income up 13%.
Online gross income up 13%.
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The annual gambling stats report from the regulator, the day before a Budget in which the industry is trying to resist a tax grab on online gambling.
Online gross income up 13%.
Online gross income up 13%.
Reposted by Rob Davies
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
Ultimatums sent to publications appear to intensify as Nigel Farage’s party rises in polls
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
More caveats than a pharmaceutical disclaimer.
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
More caveats than a pharmaceutical disclaimer.
I know why it costs that much but it is genuinely funny that you can show these picture to 95% of the world and say "This house costs nearly £1m" and they will think you've gone insane.
They really don't want to share any interior shots but when they do, you just know that unspeakable acts have been committed within... www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...
Check out this 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove
3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in 75 Camden Mews, Camden, London, NW1 9BY, NW1 for £925,000. Marketed by Auction House London, Hampstead
www.rightmove.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I know why it costs that much but it is genuinely funny that you can show these picture to 95% of the world and say "This house costs nearly £1m" and they will think you've gone insane.
Oh no! I will be attempting to hit the first notes of Many Rivers To Cross in the shower later as a tribute. RIP.
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Oh no! I will be attempting to hit the first notes of Many Rivers To Cross in the shower later as a tribute. RIP.
I'm sorry, Arsenal are a very good team but this North London Forever song is the most embarrassing thing in football and I can't believe their fans swallow it.
November 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I'm sorry, Arsenal are a very good team but this North London Forever song is the most embarrassing thing in football and I can't believe their fans swallow it.
Terrifying, maddening and utterly heart-breaking. Truly incredible journalism to expose and document this.
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Terrifying, maddening and utterly heart-breaking. Truly incredible journalism to expose and document this.
Reposted by Rob Davies
That explains this easrlier this summer then.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Costa Del Sol pub WeatherSpains vows to fight Wetherspoons in court
The bar, based in the seaside resort town of Benalmadena, had been trading for years under the name, a clear nod to the budget-friendly UK chain popular among British holidaymakers.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM
That explains this easrlier this summer then.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Couldn't resist pointing out that The Sun's Save Our Bets splash failed to mention that Sun Bingo income, part of a revenue share with gambling software company Playtech, grew 7% to €78.9m (£69.4m) last year, while SunBets is to be relaunched next year.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
How could Reeves hit gambling firms – and are they fearmongering over impact?
Chancellor is expected to increase duties bookies and casinos pay, ending months of speculation and lobbying
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Couldn't resist pointing out that The Sun's Save Our Bets splash failed to mention that Sun Bingo income, part of a revenue share with gambling software company Playtech, grew 7% to €78.9m (£69.4m) last year, while SunBets is to be relaunched next year.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
A deep(ish) dive into Rachel Reeves' gambling tax dilemma, covering:-
- How does gambling tax work?
- What are the proposals?
- Is the industry "scaremongering"
- Black market risk
- Intense lobbying
- What will actually happen?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- How does gambling tax work?
- What are the proposals?
- Is the industry "scaremongering"
- Black market risk
- Intense lobbying
- What will actually happen?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
How could Reeves hit gambling firms – and are they fearmongering over impact?
Chancellor is expected to increase duties bookies and casinos pay, ending months of speculation and lobbying
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:27 AM
A deep(ish) dive into Rachel Reeves' gambling tax dilemma, covering:-
- How does gambling tax work?
- What are the proposals?
- Is the industry "scaremongering"
- Black market risk
- Intense lobbying
- What will actually happen?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- How does gambling tax work?
- What are the proposals?
- Is the industry "scaremongering"
- Black market risk
- Intense lobbying
- What will actually happen?
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
For England fans in Perth on Sunday-Tuesday, can I suggest a drive down to Manjimup to see/climb the karri trees and maybe a little vineyard tour taking in the Margaret River?
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
For England fans in Perth on Sunday-Tuesday, can I suggest a drive down to Manjimup to see/climb the karri trees and maybe a little vineyard tour taking in the Margaret River?
Weekend in Perth, is it?
November 21, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Weekend in Perth, is it?
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Rob Davies
BREAKING: The UK’s response to Covid was “too little, too late”, a damning official report on the handling of the pandemic has concluded, saying the introduction of a lockdown even a week earlier than happened could have saved more than 20,000 lives.
November 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
BREAKING: The UK’s response to Covid was “too little, too late”, a damning official report on the handling of the pandemic has concluded, saying the introduction of a lockdown even a week earlier than happened could have saved more than 20,000 lives.
Really hope Steve Smith is having a hard time sleeping right now.
Which, y'know, wouldn't be all that surprising.
Which, y'know, wouldn't be all that surprising.
November 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Really hope Steve Smith is having a hard time sleeping right now.
Which, y'know, wouldn't be all that surprising.
Which, y'know, wouldn't be all that surprising.
My money's on The Critic for the first contrarian piece on this by someone who has never thought about it previously for more than five minutes. Possibly Spiked.
November 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
My money's on The Critic for the first contrarian piece on this by someone who has never thought about it previously for more than five minutes. Possibly Spiked.