Proposed 40% gaming-machine tax could endanger 34 UK casinos and 3,800 jobs

A study commissioned by the Night Time Industries Association and modelled by EY finds that increasing the gaming-machine duty from one outlet 20% to 40% could threaten the viability of 34 UK casinos and about 3,800 jobs. The analysis also indicates that £100 million of planned investment and £73 million of future tax revenue might be lost, putting pressure on the broader hospitality and entertainment ecosystem that surrounds modern casinos.

Britain’s casino workforce numbers around 14,000 across 108 licensed premises, and industry voices such as Joe Brown of Metropolitan Mayfair stress that the cumulative effect of higher taxes, regulation and banking restrictions is the real danger. Rank Group and the owners of Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos have warned that up to a third of their venues and roughly 2,000 staff could be affected. The report highlights that casino patrons often visit other local businesses, making casinos an anchor for high-street regeneration. Michael Kill of NTIA and Alex Oswald of Metropolitan Gaming argue that policy decisions should weigh these wider economic contributions, not just direct tax gains.