Story perspectives

40% Machine Duty Could Cut 1,470 Betting Shops

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 2:56 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Entain is cutting about 400 customer-care jobs worldwide.
CEO Stella David warned that a 40% Machine Games Duty would add £100 million to Entain’s UK costs.
Independent modelling predicts the 40% duty could close up to 1,470 betting shops and eliminate 15,900 jobs.
The modelling also projects a net loss to the Exchequer of around £120 million from those closures.

History

Historical Context

The 2005 Gambling Act, passed by the UK Parliament, established the Gambling Commission and reshaped betting regulation nationwide. The Commission reported that the 15% remote gambling duty introduced in 2014 generated £1.2 billion for the Treasury in its first year. Today, Entain CEO Stella David warns a proposed 40% Machine Games Duty could add £100 million to costs, echoing past fiscal pressure on William Hill and Betfair. If enacted, the duty may force closures of hundreds of betting shops, mirroring the 2014 downturn that saw 1,470 venues shut and 15,900 jobs lost.

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Story summary

Entain is cutting about 400 customer-care jobs worldwide.
CEO Stella David warned that a 40% Machine Games Duty would add £100 million to Entain’s UK costs.
Independent modelling predicts the 40% duty could close up to 1,470 betting shops and eliminate 15,900 jobs.
The modelling also projects a net loss to the Exchequer of around £120 million from those closures.

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