Chancellor John Healey announced he will increase gambling taxes to pay for a high street support package during his 2026 Budget, with machine gaming duty climbing to 25 per cent.
While the increase is lower than the 40 per cent which was feared – and campaigned for in some quarters – it is still expected to have a serious impact on bookmakers and betting shops. That in turn will mean the loss of millions of pounds in levy and media rights income for British racing.
Healey said: “To pay for this support for our high streets, I am raising taxes on gambling – by increasing Machine Games Duty from 20 per cent to 25 per cent for higher stakes machines, while protecting pubs and seaside arcades.”
