Gordon Brown Calls for Machine Games Duty Increase to Aid Household Energy Bills

Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a significant increase in machine games duty on gaming machines located in adult entertainment centres and betting shops, with estimates suggesting the move could generate up to £500 million to support household energy bills. The proposal focuses specifically on slots and similar machines while leaving bingo halls and pubs unaffected, according to details shared in recent industry discussions.

Scope of the Proposed Tax Adjustment

The suggested rise in machine games duty targets venues that operate gaming machines outside of pubs and bingo halls, creating a clear distinction in how different sectors of the gambling industry would face the change. Brown presented the adjustment as a way to direct additional revenue toward easing pressures on household energy costs, with the projected £500 million figure forming the core of the financial estimate. Observers note that this approach avoids broader impacts across all machine locations, narrowing the focus to adult entertainment centres and betting shops where slots form a primary offering.

Those familiar with the proposal point out that the duty increase would apply only to machines in the specified environments, which means operators in bingo halls and pubs would continue under existing rates. This targeted structure has drawn attention because it isolates the potential revenue stream while maintaining exemptions for certain venue types. Data shared alongside the call indicates the funds could reach substantial levels without requiring adjustments to every sector of land-based gaming.

Industry Response and Projected Outcomes

The Betting and Gaming Council has issued a direct response to the proposal, highlighting several potential consequences if the duty increase moves forward. According to the group, the change could result in more than 2,900 betting shop closures across the country, alongside over 21,000 job losses tied to those operations. The council further noted that contributions to horseracing through the levy and media rights might drop by around £70 million under such conditions.

Figures released by the Betting and Gaming Council connect these outcomes directly to the higher tax burden on the targeted machines, suggesting operators would face difficult decisions about maintaining locations and staffing levels. The warnings focus on the cumulative effect across betting shops, where slots represent a significant portion of activity, and emphasize the knock-on reduction in racing-related payments that currently flow from the sector. Those who've reviewed the estimates describe a scenario where the duty hike would reshape the operational landscape for many venues without touching the exempted categories.

Context Around Revenue Allocation

Brown's call positions the additional machine games duty revenue as support for household energy bills, linking the tax adjustment to a specific public need. The £500 million estimate serves as the benchmark for what the increase might deliver, based on current machine volumes in the affected centres and shops. This framing keeps the discussion centered on how the funds could address energy cost challenges while the duty applies only to slots and comparable machines in adult entertainment centres and betting shops.

Industry analysts have examined the proposal's boundaries, confirming that bingo halls and pubs remain outside its reach under the outlined plan. This exclusion creates a defined pathway for revenue collection that avoids uniform application across all gaming environments. Reports on the initiative show the focus remains on generating the stated amount without extending the duty changes beyond the designated machine types and locations.

Conclusion

The proposal from Gordon Brown outlines a clear increase in machine games duty aimed at adult entertainment centres and betting shops, with the £500 million target tied to energy bill support and exclusions preserved for bingo halls and pubs. The Betting and Gaming Council's assessment projects significant closures, job impacts, and reduced racing contributions if implemented. Details of the call appear in coverage from the Racing Post, providing the primary source for these estimates and responses as of the latest updates in August 2026.