Betfred Ends Rugby League Sponsorship, Citing UK Gambling Tax Rises

^{Betfred has sponsored rugby league since 2017, but owner Fred Done says tax rises since last year's Budget have forced the bookmaker to end its backing of the sport. (Photo: Betfred, Market Place, Wetherby / Wikimedia Commons)}

Betfred will not renew its title sponsorship of rugby league's Super League, Challenge Cup and England Rugby League after this season, ending a partnership that began in 2017.

RL Commercial, the sport's commercial body, confirmed the end of the deal on 19 September 2026. Betfred owner Fred Done said in the announcement that rising gambling taxes, combined with wage inflation, had forced the business to review all of its spending after it closed 132 shops in July.

Betfred Blames Tax Rises for the Decision

'Regrettably, following last year's extremely disappointing Budget, and the ensuing combination of tax rises and wage inflation that led directly to the 132 shop closures we announced in July, it has been necessary to review all Betfred spending,' Done said in RL Commercial's statement. 'In that context, it is with a very heavy heart that we have taken the decision not to extend our support for Rugby League.'

Done, who is from Salford, a rugby league stronghold in Greater Manchester, set out his reasoning in more detail in The Sunday Times over the weekend. He pointed to last year's Autumn Budget, which raised Remote Gaming Duty on online casino products from 21% to 40% and introduced a new 25% rate on digital sports betting from April 2027, up from 15%. Bets placed in shops and on machine games were not affected by that change.

British Classics Sponsorship Also at Risk

Betfred is also the lead sponsor of horseracing's five British Classics, the Derby, the Oaks, the St Leger, the 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 Guineas. Done said the firm has a verbal agreement to extend that deal for a further three years, but warned it would walk away if the chancellor, John Healey, raises Machine Games Duty in the Budget on 28 October 2026.

'We have a verbal agreement to renew our sponsorship of the British Classic horse races for a further three years, but if October's budget goes the wrong way on MGD, we will have to walk away from those too.'

Should the duty rise, Done said Betfred would have to close 495 shops, almost half its UK estate, with the loss of around 2,475 jobs. Machine Games Duty currently stands at 20% on its standard band, and is charged on takings from gaming machines in shops, casinos, bingo halls and arcades.

A Blow for Rugby League's Finances

RL Commercial thanked Done for his 'commitment, support and contribution to rugby league' since the deal began, calling the partnership one of the sport's most significant commercial relationships. Rhodri Jones, interim RFL chief executive and RL Commercial managing director, said Betfred had been 'an outstanding partner across rugby league for nearly a decade.'

The sport will now need to find a replacement lead sponsor before the 2027 season, at a time when several UK gambling operators are scaling back sports sponsorship rather than expanding it. A number of Premier League clubs are already losing their gambling shirt sponsors under a separate voluntary ban.

Championship clubs have so far held onto their betting sponsors despite the wider pressure on operator budgets. Healey's Budget on 28 October will determine whether Betfred's remaining sports sponsorships follow rugby league out the door.