Entain warns prime minister against raising Machine Games Duty as hike could add £100m in annual costs

Entain has issued a stark warning in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham about the potential impact of a proposed increase to the Machine Games Duty (MGD). 

Ahead of the government’s Autumn Budget in October, Entain CEO Stella David cautioned that doubling the current MGD rate to 40% could result in widespread closures of betting shops and significant job losses, while potentially reducing tax revenues for the government.

A potential MGD rise was first reported in the The Financial Times, as Chancellor John Healey is allegedly looking to raise the tax, on the recommendation of the Social Market Foundation, which proposed the increase in a recent report.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham had already announced the government’s intention to scrap “aim to permit” for betting shops as well as insisting that AGCs will now need planning permission to function.

Potential for extensive job losses and shop closures

In her letter David warned another tax increase, on top of April’s RGD increase to 40% of GGR, could increase its operational expenses for retail by £100 million annually.

This could precipitate as many as 1,470 shop closures and the loss of up to 15,900 jobs, according to figures commissioned via the Betting and Gaming Council and consultancy firm EY.

David further emphasised the impact such a tax rise would have on high street workers and communities.

“They are people losing their jobs and communities losing long-established high-street businesses,” David wrote.

“These jobs matter. They matter particularly in communities where good local employment can be difficult to find.”

She emphasised that half of Entain’s retail employees were women, with over 50% working flexible or part-time hours. More than 2,500 of its employees are under 25 years old.

The letter argues that the proposed increase would hit the workers and communities Labour’s “Makerfield Test” is supposed to protect, while potentially costing the Exchequer money rather than raising it.

Revenue flowing to black market

Entain stressed the importance of its retail networks in providing local employment and community engagement. 

It noted the role of machine gaming revenue in sustaining shops outside of race days, which in turn supports local economic activity, including around £50 million annually devoted to British horse racing. 

Entain warned that a sharp rise in MGD could prompt customers to migrate out of the regulated market, estimating that up to £1 billion in gambling stakes could shift to the black market.

The company cited analyses from the Office for Budget Responsibility which suggested previous gambling tax rises had reduced expected tax receipts, including a £500m reduction in forecast receipts for 2029-30. This revenue, writes David, would flow to the black market. 

A new report commissioned by Euromat, and produced by Regulus Partners and Helios, has estimated that Europe’s black market has sustained a compound annual growth rate of 18% between 2019 and 2026, and will be worth up to €13 billion by the end of the year.

Entain said it had requested meetings with government officials to present its concerns directly and facilitate engagement between ministers and frontline shop staff before final budget decisions are made.

Customer care restructuring 

Alongside its warning on MGD, Entain revealed it had embarked upon a consultation process that may lead to the reduction of around 400 customer care roles from its 2,000-strong UK team. 

According to David, the step forms part of Entain’s broader initiative to streamline operations, increase efficiency and improve customer experience, with the company aiming to create centres of excellence across locations.

“The proposed changes are being made to ensure our business remains competitive, financially resilient and well positioned for the future as our sector faces an increasingly challenging operating environment,” David said.

“This decision has not been made lightly and our immediate priority is to support those of our colleagues who may be impacted through this transition.”

Earlier this year, Entain reported it would be cutting 500 roles globally across operations and its central functions, it insisted it was not a reaction to the earlier increase in RGD, but rather part of new CFO Michael Snape’s restructuring and cost cutting exercise.

Entain said at the time: “As part of our ongoing focus on enhancing Entain’s operational efficiency and agility, we have begun implementing organisational changes which will regrettably impact a number of roles across the group over the months ahead.”  

Entain cut down its Ladbrokes retail estate in Ireland by over a third in April, amid reports it had withdrawn from discussions to sell its entire Ladbrokes retail estate in the market.

Last week, Bet365 also cut more than 300 jobs in response to the UK’s tax increase.