The former boss of Paddy Power has called for higher gambling taxes to deter bookmakers from tactics that draw punters into more addictive games, as he said profits across the sector were “exploding”.
Stewart Kenny, who co-founded the betting firm but has become a critic of the industry’s tactics since retiring, also accused firms of “scaremongering” over warnings about gambling tax hikes.
Mr Kenny told MPs on the Treasury Committee: “I really believe that, for the parts of the industry that are the most harm, that you tax higher to disincentivise the bookmakers from sucking you from the sports book into the online casino.”
