Genting Casinos UK Warns of Major Job Losses from Planned Machine Games Duty Increase
Katja Simon · Sep 26, 2026
Genting Casinos UK Warns of Major Job Losses from Planned Machine Games Duty Increase
Paul Willcock, CEO of Genting Casinos UK, delivered a direct assessment in a CityAM op-ed about the UK Treasury's proposal to double Machine Games Duty from 20% to 40% on land-based gaming machines, with the change slated for the Budget at the end of October 2026, and the executive detailed how this adjustment would render 13 of the company's 32 UK casinos unprofitable or unsustainable while placing 850 jobs at direct risk and reducing incentives for future investment in the sector.
The proposed duty increase targets Category B machines found across casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, and similar venues, and Willcock emphasized that the measure would create immediate operational strain without corresponding offsets for land-based operators who already navigate high fixed costs and regulatory requirements.
Survey Data Reveals Widespread Industry Concerns
A Bacta membership survey conducted among affected operators found that every respondent anticipated a negative business impact from the duty rise, while 90% characterized the expected consequences as severe, and these figures align with the specific projections Genting Casinos UK presented regarding its own portfolio of properties.
Observers note that the survey captures input from a broad cross-section of venues reliant on gaming machine revenue, which means the reported outcomes extend well beyond a single company and highlight structural vulnerabilities across multiple business models within the land-based gaming sector.
Breakdown of Potential Casino Closures and Employment Effects
Of Genting's 32 UK locations, the analysis indicates that 13 would fall into unprofitable territory once the duty reaches 40%, a threshold that would force difficult decisions around continued operations and staffing levels, and the 850 positions identified as at risk represent roles spanning floor staff, management, and support functions that sustain daily casino activity.
Those who've examined the numbers point out that machine revenue often accounts for a substantial share of overall income at these sites, which makes the duty adjustment particularly acute for properties already operating near break-even points after accounting for rent, utilities, and compliance expenses.
Broader Reach Across Bingo Halls and Adult Gaming Centres
The duty change would not remain confined to casinos alone, since Category B machines operate in bingo halls and adult gaming centres as well, and industry participants report that similar profitability pressures would likely emerge at those locations once the higher rate takes effect.
Figures from the Bacta survey suggest the impact would register uniformly across respondent businesses, regardless of venue type, which indicates that smaller operators and regional sites could face comparable sustainability questions even if their absolute revenue figures differ from larger casino groups.
Context Around Investment and Operational Planning
Willcock noted in the op-ed that the proposed tax increase would discourage further capital investment in UK land-based gaming facilities, a consideration that matters because many venues require ongoing upgrades to remain competitive and meet evolving customer expectations for equipment and amenities.
Those who've studied the sector observe that operators typically plan refurbishments and expansions on multi-year cycles, so an abrupt rise in machine-related taxation could shift resources away from such projects toward short-term cost containment measures.
Timeline Leading to the October 2026 Budget Decision
With the Budget scheduled for the end of October 2026, stakeholders across the land-based gaming industry have several months to engage with Treasury officials and present detailed impact assessments, and the Genting warning arrives at a point where policy details remain open to refinement before final legislation.
Survey responses collected by Bacta provide one channel for aggregated industry feedback, while individual company analyses like the one released by Genting supply venue-specific data that policymakers can weigh against revenue projections for the duty itself.
Conclusion
The statements from Genting Casinos UK and the accompanying Bacta survey data outline concrete financial thresholds and employment figures tied directly to the proposed Machine Games Duty adjustment, and these elements together form a focused picture of how the policy would intersect with existing business conditions at land-based venues across the UK.
Further details on the survey and related reporting appear in coverage from InterGame, which tracks developments in the sector as the Budget date approaches.