Genting Casinos UK CEO Highlights Risks from Proposed Machine Gaming Duty Increase
Drew Meier · Sep 27, 2026
Genting Casinos UK CEO Highlights Risks from Proposed Machine Gaming Duty Increase
Paul Willcock, chief executive of Genting Casinos UK, delivered a detailed warning in a CityAM opinion piece about the consequences of doubling Machine Gaming Duty from 20% to 40%, a change anticipated in the October 28 Budget, and the measure would render 13 of the company's 32 UK casinos unprofitable or unsustainable while placing 850 jobs at risk, according to the executive's assessment.
Willcock emphasized that casinos contribute to local economies in ways that extend beyond their immediate premises, and he referenced a Bacta membership survey where every respondent anticipated negative business effects with 90% describing those effects as severe, data that aligns with the company's internal projections on operational viability.
Details of the Proposed Tax Adjustment
The planned rise in Machine Gaming Duty targets land-based operations directly, building on the April 2026 increase already implemented for remote gaming duty, while ongoing speculation continues around further land-based tax adjustments that could compound pressures across the sector, figures from industry monitoring show.
Those who have reviewed the company's structure note that the 13 affected sites represent 38% of Genting's UK portfolio, and the resulting financial strain stems from higher per-machine costs that erode margins on existing revenue streams without corresponding adjustments in player spending patterns.
Employment and Operational Impacts
Observers tracking the announcement point out that the 850 positions at stake span multiple locations, and these roles support not only casino floors but also ancillary services such as hospitality and security that maintain daily operations, according to the details shared in the op-ed.
Research into similar tax shifts in other jurisdictions indicates that abrupt duty doublings often lead operators to reassess site portfolios, and Genting's case follows this pattern where sustainability thresholds are crossed once costs exceed revenue thresholds by the projected margins.
Broader Economic Context from the Survey
The Bacta membership survey, referenced directly in the warning, collected responses showing uniform expectations of harm, with the 90% severe-impact figure underscoring how widespread the anticipated effects appear across participating businesses, data that provides a snapshot of sector sentiment ahead of the Budget decision.
Those who've examined casino contributions to surrounding areas find that each venue generates foot traffic for nearby retailers and restaurants, and Willcock's comments highlighted these spillover benefits as factors that could diminish if multiple sites close due to the duty change.
Figures from the op-ed connect the proposed MGD adjustment to the earlier remote gaming duty rise in April 2026, creating a timeline where land-based operators face successive cost increases while competitors in digital spaces operate under their own revised framework.
Company Position and Industry Response
Genting Casinos UK operates 32 venues across the country, and the 38% subset identified as vulnerable illustrates how the duty increase would affect sites unevenly based on location-specific revenue and footfall data, according to the executive's breakdown.
People monitoring the situation note that the warning arrives as part of pre-Budget advocacy, where industry voices present quantitative assessments to inform policy discussions, and the combination of job risk figures with profitability projections forms the core of the argument presented.
Timeline of Tax Developments
The sequence begins with the April 2026 remote gaming duty adjustment, moves through current speculation on land-based measures, and culminates in the October 28 Budget announcement expected to finalize the MGD rate, a progression that allows operators limited time for strategic responses once details are confirmed.
Evidence from the Bacta responses shows respondents across the membership anticipate comparable challenges, which suggests the Genting assessment may reflect wider patterns rather than isolated circumstances, statistics that add context to the single-company outlook.
Conclusion
The warning from Paul Willcock centers on concrete projections for Genting's UK operations under the proposed Machine Gaming Duty increase, supported by internal calculations and the Bacta survey findings that together map potential site closures and employment effects ahead of the October 28 Budget decision.
Those reviewing the information can trace the connections between the duty adjustment, the April 2026 remote gaming precedent, and the local economic roles casinos play, all framed within the factual parameters supplied in the CityAM op-ed and related industry data.