BGC Campaign Challenges Proposed 40% Machine Games Duty Increase with Focus on Jobs, Shops, and Community Hubs

The Betting and Gaming Council launched the “Back Our Betting Shops” campaign to highlight the potential damage from further tax increases and betting shop closures on employees, families, and communities across Britain. The initiative profiles employees, apprentices, managers, customers, and community collaborators, casting betting shops as local community hubs.

The campaign opposes a proposed increase in Machine Games Duty to 40%. EY modelling cited by the BGC indicates the measure could put up to 16,000 jobs, nearly 1,500 betting shops, and up to 34 casinos at risk. The Treasury could be left £124 million ($163.86 million) worse off. This coverage draws from reporting by Yogonet International.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst tied the effort to the prime minister’s Makerfield constituency, a bellwether for policy. “Makerfield tells a very human story about what betting shops mean to communities across Britain,” Hurst said. She added that the prime minister has said policies should face a “Makerfield test” – if they do not work for people here and lift them up, they should not happen at all.

An Opinium poll showed 54% of Makerfield residents said betting shops contribute to local community life. The figure included 51% of Labour voters and 59% of Reform voters. “Further tax rises risk inflicting exactly the kind of damage communities like Makerfield are worried about and raise serious questions about whether such a policy would pass the prime minister’s own Makerfield test,” Hurst said. “Behind every betting shop is a team of real people earning a living, supporting their families and playing a part in their local community.”

Industry Leaders Detail Closure and Revenue Risks

Entain CEO Stella David warned that doubling Machine Games Duty to 40% could lead to widespread betting shop closures and significant job losses while potentially reducing government tax revenues. Betfred CEO Fred Done said the proposed increase would lead the company to close 495 shops within a year, resulting in 2,575 job losses and around £67 million in foregone tax revenue for the Exchequer. Betfred has already closed 132 outlets this year following last year’s Remote Gaming Duty increase.

The government said last month it would repeal the “aim to permit” rule for betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades across Great Britain. This removes the presumption in favour of granting permission for such venues.

The Makerfield Test for Tax Policy

The campaign confronts the government with specific modelling of job losses, shop closures, and net revenue decline against its own standard for policies that support communities. Operators face clear signals of further high-street contraction if the 40% rate advances, while the cited local sentiment and prior closures already under way underscore limits on absorbing additional fiscal pressure without structural shrinkage.

Reporting: Yogonet International

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.