Genting UK Raises Alarm Over Potential Machine Games Duty Increase Ahead of October Budget

Genting UK chief executive Paul Willcock has outlined the potential effects of a proposed rise in machine games duty from 20% to 40% on slot machines and fixed-odds terminals, a measure under review before Chancellor John Healey presents the first Budget on October 28, and observers note that 13 of the operator’s 32 UK casino sites could become unprofitable or unsustainable as a result.

The company has shared these assessments with Treasury and DCMS officials, while a parallel statement from Rank Group, which owns Grosvenor Casinos, indicates that up to 16 of its 47 venues might face closure with around 1,800 positions at risk.

Details of the Proposed Duty Change

The machine games duty adjustment under consideration would apply specifically to gaming machines located in casino venues, and data supplied by Genting UK shows that higher operating costs would concentrate pressure on locations in northern and midlands towns where footfall already runs lower than in southern markets.

Those who have examined the figures point out that the 20-percentage-point jump would double the tax take on each machine’s net takings, a shift that operators calculate would push multiple sites below break-even thresholds within the first year of implementation.

Genting UK Assessment and Venue Exposure

Paul Willcock’s submission states that 13 Genting venues would move into loss-making territory or require immediate restructuring, and company records list the affected properties as a mix of larger regional casinos and smaller high-street sites that rely heavily on machine revenue rather than table games.

Employment data attached to the warning identifies approximately 900 roles that could be eliminated through site closures, with the majority of those positions based in towns where alternative hospitality employment remains limited.

Regional Concentration of Potential Closures

Records supplied by the two companies show that the majority of venues flagged for possible shutdown sit outside London and the south-east, and analysts tracking gambling premises data confirm that northern and midlands towns host a higher proportion of smaller casino sites whose margins depend more on machine play than on high-stakes tables or ancillary services.

Local authority licensing statistics indicate these sites often serve as community leisure hubs, and any reduction in opening hours or outright closure would remove both direct employment and associated supplier spending in those districts.

Timeline and Government Engagement

The warnings were delivered in the weeks leading up to the October 28 Budget announcement, and both Genting UK and Rank Group have requested meetings with officials to discuss mitigation options such as phased implementation or regional relief measures.

Treasury and DCMS spokespeople have acknowledged receipt of the submissions, while industry bodies continue to compile aggregate employment and revenue figures that will be presented during the consultation window.

Conclusion

The submissions from Genting UK and Rank Group provide specific venue-level and employment projections tied directly to the machine games duty proposal, and the information has been placed before the departments responsible for finalising tax policy ahead of the October 28 Budget statement. Further details on any adjustments to the duty rate are expected once the Chancellor delivers the fiscal update.