The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in UK has warned about 9,000 jobs being on risks because of recently announced tax hikes of Machine Games Duty to 25%.
On October 29, Chancellor and UK Treasury Head John Healey confirmed that Machine Games Duty rises to 25% ahead of Autumn Budget. The rise is aimed helping fund higher business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
The BGC warns that the rise will be damaging for workers and businesses in the gambling sector. Council reports that already 600 betting shops have closed after the last Budget changes and more that 11,000 jobs have been lost.
Grainne Hurst, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said:
This is a deeply damaging decision and a blow to the thousands of workers, businesses and communities who depend on Britain’s regulated betting and gaming industry. The Chancellor has ignored repeated warnings about the consequences. At 25 per cent, EY projects almost 9,000 people could lose their jobs and almost 1,000 betting shops and casinos could close or be at serious risk. These are real people and families facing the loss of their income and security, in places where alternative work can be hard to find.
The BGC mentioned that casinos are under more strain due to the rise of taxes and investment plans may be optimized. The chance for investments changes exists despite reforms aimed at promoting land-based business sector development implemented by the government. The association is expecting some consequences like the closure of enterprises in Scotland and North of England.
According to the Council’s information, more than 80 % of total employment is outside of London. But it pointed out that potential job cuts would hit young workers and people who work and take care of families because there is not much employment opportunity for them. The law on machine tax will come to force together with the law on Remote Gaming Duty which was already on force since April 2026.
