Betfred to end rugby league sponsorship due to UK tax rises

Betfred has announced it will end its sponsorship of rugby league at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The betting firm, which has been a title sponsor for the Super League, Challenge Cup, and England Rugby League since 2017, cited government tax increases and wage inflation as the primary drivers for the decision.

Owner Fred Done described the decision as being made “with a very heavy heart,” attributing the move to the impact of the recent UK budget. The company noted that the combination of tax burdens and economic uncertainty has forced a review of all spending. This follows a July announcement that Betfred would close 132 shops and cut over 600 jobs.

The decision comes amid broader industry pressure following changes to gaming taxes, including an increase in general betting duty to 25% and a near doubling of remote gaming duty to 40%.