Bingo Jobs at Risk in Tax Raid, Bosses Warn

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 19, 2026

UK bingo operators have warned that a proposed increase in slot machine duty from 20% to as much as 40% could force widespread venue closures and threaten thousands of jobs, particularly in northern England. This tax hike is part of broader government efforts to regulate gambling, but industry leaders caution it may undermine recent gains and destabilize key local economies ahead of the upcoming Budget announcement.

Bingo operators in the United Kingdom have raised concerns about potential job losses and venue closures in response to reports that the government may increase the duty on slot machines. The proposed tax hike, which could see the duty double from 20% to 40%, is reportedly under consideration for the upcoming Budget as part of broader measures targeting gambling establishments.

The Rank Group, which operates 41 Mecca Bingo venues alongside 47 Grosvenor casinos, warned that the tax increase could result in the closure of up to a third of its sites. Richard Harris, Rank’s chief executive, estimated the additional duty would cost the company approximately £35 million, putting around 1,625 jobs at risk—nearly 25% of its UK workforce. Harris highlighted that many of these jobs are located in Labour’s so-called Red Wall constituencies across northern England, areas politically significant to the current government.

Dominic Mansour, chief executive of Buzz Bingo, another major bingo operator, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that slot machines constitute a vital revenue source for bingo halls nationwide as well as for pubs, working men’s clubs, and seaside arcades. Mansour cautioned that even a smaller increase, to 25% duty, could render about one-third of Buzz Bingo’s venues unprofitable, threatening both the company’s investment plans and staffing levels. He further stated that a broad increase in the machine games duty could negate the benefits gained from the recent abolition of bingo duty, potentially forcing club closures and endangering jobs.

The warnings come amid industry apprehension that gambling venues could become unintended casualties in fiscal efforts to curb betting shop and adult gaming centre activity. The chief executive of Entain, the operator behind Ladbrokes and Coral, has also issued a stark warning, suggesting that a doubling of the duty might lead to the closure of as many as 1,470 betting shops, putting nearly 16,000 jobs at risk.

A Treasury spokesperson declined to comment on the reported tax proposals, noting that tax decisions are a matter for the Chancellor to announce during formal fiscal events and that it does not normally respond to speculation or rumors.

The government's intention appears to focus on tightening regulations around gambling, though the exact scope and impact of any duty changes remain unclear as discussions continue ahead of the Budget announcement.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.