In the latest episode of iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, Charlie Horner, Ted Orme-Claye, and Joe Streeter, unpack Sky Bet’s headline-grabbing decision to migrate key commercial and marketing functions from Leeds to Malta – a move that has reignited debate around the UK’s competitiveness as a base for digital gambling firms.
Flutter-owned Sky Bet is understood to be pursuing the relocation primarily for tax efficiency. Independent estimates suggest the operator could save around £31m in corporation tax by moving from the UK’s 25% rate to Malta’s effective 5% structure. Further annual benefits of £15m to £20m may be realised through participation in an EU VAT group, adding to the financial incentive.
However, the timing of the announcement, landing just days before the first Labour budget, has stirred controversy. The decision has been seized upon politically, with the practice of redomiciling raised during Prime Minister’s Questions, where the move was characterised as an attempt to sidestep UK tax liabilities.
The hosts note that while the Leeds office will remain operational, the shift of senior decision-making roles marks a symbolic blow for the city’s growing tech and digital cluster. The trio also highlights a sense of unease among operators, many of whom view Sky Bet’s move as a reflection of wider concerns about the UK’s economic direction.
Yet the discussion also asks whether Sky Bet is simply playing catch-up. Many Tier 1 operators have long adopted structures in lower-tax jurisdictions, raising the question of whether Sky Bet, long regarded as a “very British institution” due to its EFL sponsorship and historic link with Sky Sports, is belatedly aligning with prevailing industry norms.
