CEO Paul Willcock Highlights Risks from Proposed Duty Hike on Gaming Machines

Paul Willcock, chief executive of Genting Casinos UK, has outlined in a detailed opinion piece the consequences that would follow if Machine Games Duty on gaming machines rises from 20% to 40%. The proposal would render 13 of the operator's 32 UK venues unprofitable or unsustainable according to company calculations, placing over 850 direct positions at risk along with numerous support roles across supply chains and local services.

Scale of the Proposed Tax Change

Willcock notes that the duty increase targets electronic gaming machines which form a core revenue stream for many casino operators. Data from the company shows this adjustment would affect profitability across nearly half its portfolio in Britain. Those venues already operate under tight margins after years of regulatory adjustments and shifting consumer patterns, and the higher rate would push several sites into sustained losses rather than temporary shortfalls.

Observers note that city-centre economies rely on visitor spending generated by regulated casino venues. When locations close, footfall declines for nearby restaurants, hotels and transport providers while tax receipts from those ancillary businesses also fall. Willcock emphasises that shuttered casinos reduce overall government revenue because closed sites generate no duty, corporation tax or employment contributions.

Employment and Regional Economic Effects

The 850 jobs cited by Genting represent direct casino employment, yet the figure expands when indirect roles in security, maintenance, catering and marketing are included. Several of the threatened venues sit in regional cities where alternative employment opportunities remain limited. Local authorities in those areas have previously cited casino operations as contributors to evening economy vitality and tourism marketing campaigns.

Industry reports from the European Casino Association indicate that machine duty rates already vary widely across European markets, and sharp unilateral increases can accelerate venue consolidation. Genting's analysis aligns with that pattern, projecting that multiple sites would exit the market rather than absorb the full cost through reduced margins or price adjustments passed to customers.

Regulatory Standards and Market Shifts

Willcock further warns that reduced numbers of licensed casinos would channel more activity toward unregulated channels. Licensed operators maintain strict age verification, responsible gambling tools and transaction monitoring required by current rules, whereas illegal or offshore alternatives operate without those safeguards. A smaller regulated sector therefore carries implications for consumer protection outcomes as well as fiscal returns.

The opinion piece references ongoing discussions around tax policy adjustments scheduled for review in September 2026. Company forecasts model the duty change against current revenue trajectories and conclude that the resulting closures would outweigh any short-term gain in per-machine taxation. Similar dynamics have appeared in other jurisdictions where abrupt duty rises prompted rapid site rationalisation.

Conclusion

The arguments presented by Paul Willcock rest on specific operational data from Genting Casinos UK, including projected site viability, employment totals and committed capital projects. The company positions its concerns around measurable effects on tax collection, local economies and the balance between regulated and unregulated gambling options. Those points now form part of the wider debate ahead of the 2026 policy review cycle.