UK Treasury Duty Proposal Raises Questions for Genting Casinos UK Operations
Henrik Patterson · Sep 29, 2026
UK Treasury Duty Proposal Raises Questions for Genting Casinos UK Operations
A UK Treasury proposal to double the Machine Games Duty from 20% to 40% on land-based gaming machines such as slots and roulette has drawn attention to its potential effects on Genting Casinos UK, and company modelling indicates that 13 of its 32 venues could become unprofitable or unsustainable under the change.
The modelling from Genting shows more than 850 jobs plus around 50 support roles facing risk if those sites close, while further investment plans including a £50 million redevelopment of the Trocadero in London could face delays or cancellation as operators reassess viability.
Details of the Proposed Tax Adjustment
Under the current structure the Machine Games Duty applies to gaming machines in casinos, betting shops and arcades at a rate of 20%, yet the Treasury has put forward a plan to raise that figure to 40% ahead of the October 28 Budget; observers note that such a shift would directly increase the tax burden on land-based operators who rely on those machines for a significant portion of revenue.
Industry representatives including Genting CEO Paul Willcock have requested a full Treasury impact assessment before any final decision, pointing out that the higher rate could shrink the taxable base overall by reducing the number of active venues and pushing activity toward unregulated operators outside the licensed sector.
Potential Effects on Employment and Investment
Genting Casinos UK operates 32 venues across the country, and internal figures suggest that 13 of those locations would fall into negative territory once the doubled duty takes effect; this outcome would place more than 850 direct positions at risk along with approximately 50 additional support roles that depend on the same sites remaining open.
Planned capital projects such as the £50 million Trocadero redevelopment in London form part of the company's forward pipeline, yet the modelling indicates those commitments could stall because higher operating costs would leave less room for expansion spending in an already competitive market.
Those who've examined similar tax changes in other jurisdictions note that abrupt duty increases often lead to venue rationalisation rather than sustained revenue growth for the Treasury, and the Genting analysis follows the same pattern by forecasting a smaller overall tax base once marginal sites exit the market.
Industry Response and Call for Assessment
Paul Willcock and other sector voices have emphasised the need for detailed modelling from the Treasury itself before the October 28 Budget date arrives, arguing that without such work the government risks underestimating how many venues would close and how much taxable activity would migrate elsewhere.
Data referenced in coverage of the proposal shows that land-based casinos already contribute through a combination of Machine Games Duty, corporation tax and employment, yet the modelling warns that doubling the machine-specific rate could erase part of that contribution if closures materialise as projected.
Broader Context Around Land-Based Gaming Taxation
The Machine Games Duty applies uniformly to slots and roulette terminals in licensed premises, and the Treasury proposal targets land-based machines specifically rather than remote platforms; analysts tracking the sector point out that this distinction matters because physical venues face different cost structures and regulatory overheads compared with online operators.
Genting's internal modelling, referenced in recent reporting, provides one operator's view of the numbers, while calls for a government-led impact assessment continue as the October 28 deadline approaches and stakeholders seek clarity on how the change would interact with existing licence conditions and employment patterns.
Conclusion
The Treasury proposal to raise Machine Games Duty to 40% remains under discussion, and Genting Casinos UK's modelling supplies concrete figures on venue viability, job exposure and investment plans that would be affected; further assessment work requested by industry participants could clarify the net fiscal outcome before the October 28 Budget is finalised.