Former PM Gordon Brown has reiterated calls to increase Machine Games Duty to 50 percent, claiming the move could raise £500m to counter rising energy costs, despite warnings from industry analysts that any increase would “accelerate betting shop closures, cost thousands of jobs and shrink the regulated sector.”
Former prime minister Gordon Brown has reiterated calls he originally made last year urging the government to increase Machine Games Duty to 50 percent, claiming the move could generate an additional £500m for the Treasury to mitigate rising energy costs.
The suggestion follows a report from the Social Market Foundation in June which also called for ministers to double the tax rate on Cat B machines in AGCs, which the Betting and Gaming Council warned would result in nearly 3,000 shop closures, and loss of 21,000 jobs.
Citing the SMF in the current political debate is somewhat surprising – and brave – given its recent embarrassing backtrack on affordability checks: two years ago it was all guns blazing stating they would reduce gambling harm – now, they’ve proved to be an utter disaster the SMF has called for the checks to be halted. A massive blow to their credibility, the SMF maths didn’t add up, and Brown’s advocacy will only serve to undermine his own calculations.
But the former PM maintains his confidence in the Social Market Foundation, but then he always was a lone figure in the political arena.
“I would support, for example, machine gaming tax – up to £500m could be raised without affecting bingo halls or affecting pubs but these adult entertainment centres,” Brown told Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I would put a tax on that and I would use that money to pay for help in the crisis and resilience fund for people who are facing difficulties with their fuel bills. In the immediate future I think Andy Burnham, I know him well, will want to do something along the lines I am suggesting.”
Which is a major concern for both the industry and the economy. As is political doctrine devised through religious philosophy, a notable influence in policy posturing of both Brown and Burnham – and religion rarely serves the economy well.
Responding to Brown’s comments, a spokesperson for the BGC said increasing MGD would mean “another damaging tax raid on a heavily regulated industry already under enormous pressure.”
“His proposals risk leaving the Treasury with less money, not more. Higher taxes would accelerate betting shop closures, cost thousands of jobs and shrink the regulated sector, while driving more customers towards illegal operators who pay no UK tax at all.”
“Britain’s betting and gaming industry already contributes more than £4bn a year in tax, supports 109,000 jobs, provides vital funding for British sport and offers entertainment enjoyed responsibly by millions of hard-working people every week.”
Brown-eyed ghoul
Gordon Brown said.. “I would support, for example, machine gaming tax – up to £500m could be raised without affecting bingo halls or affecting pubs but these adult entertainment centres…
Originally published on Coinslot on September 7, 2026. Republished with permission.