A bookie boss has warned the Chancellor that hiking taxes on the industry in this week's budget would hammer the betting industry - and even leave the Treasury worse off Betting could be a big loser in this week's budget, with Betfred warning that a quarter of its bookies might close (Image: Getty Images/Connect Images)

Rachel Reeves is looking to find billions to balance the books in her autumn budget. But Betfred chief Joanne Whittaker has warned her that picking on punters this Wednesday would be " catastrophic ".

In her letter to the Chancellor she claims that even a slight tax rise would be so "devastating" that the betting industry delivers less not more cash to the Treasury.

“Tax increases will lead to shop closures and job losses ,” she claims. "This would have a d

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