Treasury faces up to £124m hit from betting tax rise

EY modelling for the BGC warns the same rise could cost the Treasury up to £124m ahead of the Budget.

The hit

A proposed rise in Machine Games Duty to 40% could put up to 16,000 jobs at risk across Britain’s betting & gaming sector, according to the Betting & Gaming Council. Independent modelling by EY for the BGC says the increase could also threaten almost 1,500 betting shops & as many as 34 casinos ahead of the upcoming Budget.

Why it matters

For bettors, fewer shops means less in-person betting & fewer local jobs tied to the sector, which the BGC says already backs 109,000 roles. BGC chief executive Grainne Hurst argues the rise clashes with the Treasury’s stated aim of supporting in-person gambling & with the government’s wider push to revitalise high streets.

The record

Jobs at risk from MGD rise to 40%	up to 16,000 (EY modelling for BGC)
Betting shops threatened	almost 1,500 (EY modelling)
Casinos threatened	as many as 34 (EY modelling)
Treasury revenue lost	up to £124m / $163.88m (EY modelling)
Jobs outside London affected	around 80%, with 27% in northern England
Remote Gaming Duty rise already applied	to 40%

What happens next

Watch the upcoming Budget for the Chancellor’s decision on Machine Games Duty & General Betting Duty, which is already scheduled to rise further in April 2027.

Sources: UK betting tax hike could put 16,000 jobs at risk, BGC warns

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