ITV Win Shuts Down After 4 Months, UK Tax Hike Blamed

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-04-29

ITV Win, the online gambling platform launched by the UK's largest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, is closing its doors just four months after launch. The site, which featured bingo and online slots branded as "spins," will shut down on May 5. Reports say its licensing and operating partner, Richmond Atlantic, has run out of money and will also be closing. ### A Short-Lived Launch ITV Win launched in January with a promise of a "relaxed" internet gaming experience. It targeted casual gamblers, offering bingo and slots in a more laid-back environment. The site also had a "prizes" section, a low-cost raffle where players could win high-value items like cars and vacations. The company expected about half of its first-time depositors to be existing ITV players, with slots as the main revenue driver. ### The Tax Hike That Broke the Camel's Back Richmond Atlantic blames the shutdown on what it calls "unsustainable" tax increases in the UK. The timing was brutal. Richmond won the five-year ITV Win contract just one day before the government announced major gambling tax hikes. On April 1, 2026, the Remote Gaming Duty, which applies to online slots and similar games, jumped from 21 percent to 40 percent. "Sadly, with the tax rise that was announced in November and became effective this month, despite a number of mitigations that we put in place for early trading, it has become clear that the business is not able to continue in the new tax environment," Richmond Atlantic said. ### No Buyer Found Richmond Atlantic tried to sell the business but couldn't find a buyer. According to NEXT.io, BetVictor parent company BVGroup was in talks to acquire Richmond Atlantic and keep ITV Win alive, but the deal fell through. ### Wider Industry Impact While Richmond Atlantic is the one going under, other companies are also feeling the pinch. Gaming Innovation Group provided the ITV Win platform, and Pragmatic Play, a major online slots developer, supplied the site's bingo product. Neither will face the same severe outcome as Richmond, but they will certainly lose revenue. ### What This Means for Gambling in the UK This closure highlights a growing trend in the UK gambling industry. The sharp tax increase is making it harder for smaller operators to survive. For casual players, it means fewer options for low-stakes, relaxed gaming. The industry is consolidating, with bigger players likely to dominate as smaller ones fold. ### Key Takeaways - ITV Win launched in January 2026 and will close on May 5, 2026. - The UK's Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21 percent to 40 percent on April 1, 2026. - Richmond Atlantic, the operating partner, is also shutting down. - A potential sale to BVGroup fell through. - Other companies like Gaming Innovation Group and Pragmatic Play will lose revenue but survive. This isn't just a story about one site closing. It's a sign of how tax policy can reshape an entire industry, leaving players and businesses scrambling.