The Conservatives, having won a plurality of seats, will likely take the reins of (limited) power in this divided legislature. The Tories traditionally don’t have any ideological bones to pick with gambling, and are considered to be more apt to both simplify and lower the tax burden imposed on the sector. That said, whoever takes over in Westminster will inherit deficits that no honest country can pay (and that’s before factoring in the billions of pounds UK banks stand to lose if Greece goes tits-up) so the Tories may well have to curb their tax-cutting instincts.
What does seem certain is that the licensing changes proposed by the Labour government will be instituted regardless of which party takes over. But this is unlikely to ruffle many feathers because most major companies, recognizing the imperative of having a presence in the UK market, are already well prepared for this eventuality.
For a broader perspective on what the future may hold, click here.