BGC Warns Against Another Increase in Machine Games Duty

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents the regulated betting and gaming sector in the United Kingdom, has warned against a possible new increase in Machine Games Duty (MGD). The body argued that the additional tax burden would threaten jobs, high street businesses and the funding of British horse racing. The statement came ahead of the coming budget.

According to the BGC, the sector is already dealing with the near doubling of Remote Gaming Duty and is preparing for the increase in General Betting Duty. MGD, meanwhile, applies to revenue from gaming machines, including those in licensed betting shops.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said the warnings are not based on assumptions. Hurst recalled that Betfred has closed betting shops, that Entain and bet365 have proposed job cuts, and that Flutter announced this week that up to 1,400 jobs could be lost. She noted that thousands of jobs in the sector have been lost or are at risk.

Hurst also made a call to the Treasury. She said higher taxes do not automatically mean higher revenue, and that the opposite can happen when businesses close and people lose their jobs. The BGC had previously stated that the jobs of more than 36,000 betting shop employees were at risk.