Genting shuts Coventry casino after 14 years, cutting 51 jobs
Genting says a possible doubling of Machine Gaming Duty in the 28 October Budget threatens hundreds more jobs.
The hit
Genting Casinos has closed its Coventry venue after 14 years, according to SBC News. The operator blames “commercial pressures facing the land-based casino sector” that make the site no longer viable to keep trading.
Why it matters
The closure lands weeks ahead of chancellor John Healey’s 28 October Budget, with talks intensifying over a possible doubling of Machine Gaming Duty, partly driven by calls from think tank Social Market Foundation. Genting says higher duty would force more venues to shut & push players toward illegal high street casinos. For bettors, it signals fewer land-based options & a sector arguing it can’t absorb more tax.
The record
| Venue opened | 2012 (Genting Casinos) |
|---|---|
| Jobs lost | 51 (Genting Casinos) |
| Machine Gaming Duty standard rate | could rise from 20% to 40% (under discussion; think-tank calls) |
| Remote Gaming Duty rise | 21% to 40% (2025 Budget, then-chancellor Rachel Reeves) |
| General Betting Duty rise | 15% to 25% from April 2027 (announced 2025 Budget) |
What happens next
Watch chancellor John Healey’s Budget on 28 October for confirmation of any Machine Gaming Duty rise.
Sources: Coventry bids farewell to Genting Casinos
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