More than £50 million in planned casino investment across Great Britain could be cancelled or reduced if Machine Games Duty rises from 20% to 40%, the Betting and Gaming Council has warned.

The proposed increase is not law, and the £50 million figure is an industry estimate, not a confirmed loss.

The warning came on October 2, 2026. It followed Genting’s announcement of the closure of its Coventry casino on October 1.

The venue opened in 2012 and employed 51 people, according to SBC News.

Projects planned for four major cities

Casino operators say they have prepared more than £200 million in investment after government reforms aimed at modernising land-based casinos.

The plans include:

  • £8 million earmarked for Bristol
  • £5 million planned for Cardiff
  • £5 million planned for Bournemouth
  • A major redevelopment of London’s Trocadero

The figures come from an analysis of investment plans involving four of Great Britain’s largest casino operators. The Betting and Gaming Council says a doubling of the standard Machine Games Duty rate could weaken the financial case for those projects.

The proposed tax change is not yet law

HM Revenue and Customs lists the current standard Machine Games Duty rate at 20% for machines with a cost to play between 21 pence and £5. Higher-rate machines are taxed at 25%.

The proposal forms part of the wider tax debate ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget on October 28, 2026. The government would need to announce and legislate any new rates before they could take effect.

This is separate from the confirmed increase in Remote Gaming Duty. That rate rose from 21% to 40% for online gaming profits on April 1, 2026.

Machine Games Duty applies to gaming machines in physical venues. It does not apply to online casino play.

Coventry closure adds pressure

Genting said its Coventry venue was no longer commercially viable. It cited higher employment costs, business rates, energy bills, compliance spending and gaming taxes.

The operator did not say that a Machine Games Duty increase caused the closure. It warned, however, that further tax pressure could lead to more closures, job losses and reduced investment in towns and cities.

The Betting and Gaming Council says the casino sector directly employs more than 10,000 people in Great Britain and supports a further 3,700 jobs.

It also says casinos recorded about 14 million customer visits in 2025 and contributed £515 million in taxes.

What is at stake for local economies

The dispute is about more than the tax collected from individual machines. Operators argue that a higher rate could reduce the money available for refurbishments, restaurants, entertainment areas and new jobs.

That could affect nearby businesses too. Modern casinos often combine gaming with food, drink, live entertainment and sports viewing. Their investment plans can therefore connect with wider night-time economy activity.

The Betting and Gaming Council says cancelling projects would undermine the government’s aim of encouraging private investment and urban regeneration.

The Treasury has not confirmed that it will double Machine Games Duty.

The next firm stage is the Budget on October 28. Until then, the 20% standard rate remains in force. The potential impact on the listed projects remains uncertain.