The CEO of the UK's main gambling industry lobby group, the Betting and Gaming Council, has warned that “up to 16,000 jobs” could be lost if the government hikes Machine Games Duty to 40%.
Grainne Hurst – citing EY’s Economic modelling of potential MGD increases (September 2026) report – adds that “nearly 1,500 betting shops” and “as many as 34 casinos” could also be at risk, while the Treasury itself could in fact “end up £124m worse off for it”.
