UK gambling industry launches summer charm offensive to head off tax rise

Exclusive: Lobbyists meet with ministers, and host a darts night with Labour advisers and MPs' staff

Gambling lobbyists are staging a summer charm offensive designed to stop ministers from raising taxes on the sector, the Guardian has learned, including meeting with Treasury insiders and hosting a darts evening with Labour special advisers and MPs' staff.

The Treasury is considering whether to simplify the various rates of duty applied to gambling products, a measure that the 11.5bn-a-year sector fears would increase its overall tax bill.