Britain’s biggest bookmakers have warned Chancellor John Healey that a proposed Machine Games Duty increase could put five of the nine betting shops in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Makerfield constituency at risk. Chief executives from Entain, Flutter, bet365, Betfred and Evoke backed a Betting and Gaming Council letter sent before the Autumn Budget, Sky News reported.

The proposed 40% rate is not law. It is an industry modelling assumption ahead of the UK Budget on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

What the proposed tax change would affect

Machine Games Duty is charged on the net takings from cash-prize gaming machines, including machines in betting offices. HM Revenue and Customs currently lists a 25% higher rate for machines where the cost to play exceeds £5.

The industry is warning about a possible rise to 40%. That figure is a proposal and modelling assumption, not an enacted tax rate or a confirmed Treasury decision.

Makerfield faces a sharp local test

Makerfield is understood to have nine betting shops. The Betting and Gaming Council says five could be at risk under its model. That would put more than half of the constituency’s venues in question if the higher rate were introduced.

The warning extends beyond the Prime Minister’s constituency. The Betting and Gaming Council says Britain’s betting shops support more than 36,000 jobs, with over 80% based outside London. More than half of employees are under 35, while women make up about half of the workforce.

  • Up to 16,000 jobs could be at risk under modelling commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council from EY.
  • Almost 1,500 betting shops could face closure.
  • As many as 34 casinos could also be affected.
  • The model estimates a possible £124 million net loss to the Exchequer after wider tax effects.

These figures are forecasts commissioned by the trade body. They are not a government impact assessment or a final policy estimate.

Further tax pressure is already planned

The operators also urged Healey to pause a planned rise in General Betting Duty on most remote betting activity, scheduled for April 2027. They argue that the industry should first assess the effect of earlier tax changes.

Remote Gaming Duty already rose from 21% to 40% in April 2026. The companies say further increases could reduce investment, weaken high streets and push more activity away from regulated businesses. That final point is an industry claim, not a confirmed outcome.

What happens next

The letter puts betting-shop jobs, local premises and Treasury revenue into the same debate. Ministers must decide whether a higher machine tax would raise enough money to justify its possible effect on venues and employment.

Until John Healey delivers the Budget on 28 October, the proposed 40% rate remains a warning rather than a change in law.