Sky Bet relocates HQ to Malta saving up to £55 million in UK taxes per year
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- Sky Bet moves its headquarters to Malta and has been recruiting commercial and marketing roles there over the summer of 2025.
- Key teams and leadership, including some personnel, have previously moved to Gibraltar or Malta this year.
- C-level roles are set for replacement as part of wider leadership changes amid the relocation.
Sky Bet, one of the UK’s largest gambling operators, has relocated its headquarters to Malta as part of an operational shift. Throughout the summer of 2025, the company has been actively recruiting for commercial and marketing roles in Malta, signalling a growing presence and focus on the island.
The move includes the relocation of key teams and personnel that were previously based in the operator’s Leeds office. Earlier this year, Sky Bet moved important parts of its business to both Gibraltar and Malta, aligning with its strategy to optimise operational efficiency and tax arrangements.
Leadership changes are also underway, with the current C- and Director suite soon to be replaced as part of the organisational restructure, close sources to the matter told iGaming Republic in August of this year. No official announcement has been made yet.
£55 million in tax saved annually
From November 1, Sky Bet’s day-to-day commercial and marketing decision-making is now based in Malta. Despite this, the Leeds office remains an important site but no longer serves as the main headquarters.
This relocation aims to reduce operational costs and take advantage of Malta’s favourable tax regime, potentially lowering the company’s UK tax bill by up to £55 million annually.
Sky Bet’s parent company, Flutter Entertainment, has acknowledged the tax implications of the move but frames the decision within the need to operate efficiently in a competitive and evolving regulatory environment. The company has also made significant job cuts in the UK alongside the relocation.
The UK gaming sector in a difficult position
Gaming companies based in the UK face a relatively heavy and complex tax environment compared to those operating from Malta. In the UK, operators pay corporation tax (e.g., 25% for higher‑profit companies) on their profits, and on top of that, they are subject to a Remote Gaming Duty (RGD): currently 21% of remote gaming profits from UK customers.
Additionally, UK-based or UK-serving operators may face Gaming Duty on gross profits if they operate physical casinos (rates up to 50% in high‑profit bands), as well as Machine Games Duty on certain betting machines.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has recently proposed a major reform of the UK gambling tax regime. Her plans include introducing a unified Remote Betting & Gaming Duty (RBGD) to cover both online betting and casino gambling. Influenced by policy‑thinkers, the proposals under discussion could raise the Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to as high as 50%, and increase Machine Gaming Duty on machines to 50% as well.
Reeves’ goal is to generate up to £3.2 billion in additional revenue, part of which could fund social policy measures. Her plans are generally seen as controversial: industry leaders and tax experts warn they could drive bettors to the black market, threaten sector jobs, and may not bring the projected revenue.
Malta, a gaming paradise
By contrast, Malta offers a more favourable effective tax regime for many iGaming companies. Although the nominal corporate income tax rate is 35%, the Maltese full‑imputation system allows for a 6/7 tax refund on distributed profits, resulting in an effective corporate tax rate of around 5% in many cases.
Malta imposes a 5% gaming tax, but only on gross gaming revenue generated from players based in Malta. Operators also pay licence fees and contributions to the Malta Gaming Authority, but for internationally focused gaming businesses, the tax burden in Malta often remains substantially lighter than in the UK.
Sky Bet’s background
Sky Bet traces its origins to the early 2000s via BSkyB’s acquisition of Surrey Sports, and it was formally rebranded as Sky Bet in 2002. Over the years, it grew into one of the UK’s most prominent online sports‑betting brands, leveraging Sky’s media reach and digital innovation.
In April 2018, The Stars Group bought Sky Betting & Gaming in a deal worth about $4.7 billion. Flutter Entertainment later acquired The Stars Group (and thus Sky Bet) in 2020. The broader Flutter UK & Ireland operation employs more than 2,000 people, including a large workforce in Leeds.
Sources: ITV, Lovin Malta
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About the author
Bianca Máthe
Bianca Mathe joined the iGaming industry in 2018 and has since built extensive experience across multiple verticals, working with international gaming organizations on editorial, marketing, and media strategy. She brings a strong understanding of the regulatory, commercial, and technological forces shaping the global iGaming sector.
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