Shadow Gambling Minister Louie French MP Meets BGC Members at Resorts World Birmingham to Highlight Casino Sector Pressures

Shadow Gambling Minister Louie French MP met casino and Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) members at Genting’s Resorts World Birmingham during the Conservative Party Conference. The visit focused on jobs, investment, the role casinos play in Britain’s leisure and hospitality economy, and concerns over the potential impact of higher Machine Games Duty (MGD), as first reported by G3 Newswire.

The discussions underscored how modern casinos form part of a broader entertainment offer. Resorts World Birmingham combines a casino with restaurants, bars, a cinema, bowling, a hotel, spa and other leisure attractions.

Sector Contributions Under Strain

Britain’s casinos directly employ more than 10,000 people and support a further 3,700 jobs. They welcome around 14 million customer visits each year, contributed £515 million in taxes and generate an estimated £815 million for the economy. The sector has faced growing pressure in recent years, with 22 casinos closing since 2019 and more than 3,000 jobs lost.

EY modelling estimates that increasing MGD from 20 per cent to 40 per cent could put up to 16,000 jobs at risk across affected land-based betting and gaming businesses, alongside nearly 1,500 betting shops and as many as 34 casinos. It also estimates the Treasury could ultimately be £124 million worse off. Land-based betting and gaming businesses are also facing higher employment costs, business rates, energy bills and regulatory costs.

Direct Appeals for Measured Policy

Louie French MP, Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “When people think of a casino, they tend to think of gambling. But Resorts World shows how much more there is to it – restaurants, bars, entertainment and hospitality, supporting a wide range of jobs. The message from operators was clear: further increases in MGD would add to the significant pressures already facing land-based businesses.

“With casinos already closing and jobs being lost, it is important that the wider impact on employment, investment and the night-time economy is properly understood.”

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Resorts World shows the wider contribution modern casinos make to Britain’s leisure and hospitality economy, supporting jobs, attracting visitors and helping drive investment in towns and cities. But that contribution cannot be taken for granted. EY modelling shows the potential consequences of a significant increase in MGD, with thousands of jobs and dozens of venues at risk.

“We welcomed the opportunity to discuss those concerns directly with Louie French MP and to make the case for a tax framework that gives businesses the confidence to invest, grow and keep people in work.”

The BGC represents more than 90 per cent of Britain’s regulated betting and gaming industry. Its members support 109,000 jobs, contribute £6.8 billion to the economy and generate more than £4 billion in tax each year. French and the industry participants stressed the need to weigh these factors in any future fiscal decisions.

Reporting: G3 Newswire

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