Think Tank Findings Point to Public Backing for Higher Taxes on High-Street Slot Machines

Recent analysis from an influential think tank shows 43% of the public supports Labour's plan to increase taxes on adult gaming centres along with high-street slot machines and casinos, and the data outlines how doubling machine games duty could bring in substantial new revenue if carried through.

Details Behind the Tax Proposal

Under the scenario examined, machine games duty would rise from its current 20% rate to 40% on Category B machines that offer £2 spins, and experts calculate this adjustment would deliver between £275 million and £458 million in extra annual receipts on top of the roughly £600 million already collected from these devices each year.

Public Attitudes Captured in the Survey

The 43% support figure comes from polling that asked respondents about raising taxes specifically on adult gaming centres and high-street gaming venues, while the same data set reveals how attitudes break down across different demographic groups and regions where these machines operate in large numbers.

Observers note the level of backing stands out because it focuses on physical high-street locations rather than online platforms, and the findings arrive at a moment when local authorities continue to review planning applications for new adult gaming centres across England.

Revenue Estimates and Current Collection Baseline

Current machine games duty yields sit near £600 million annually from Category B machines, and the think tank projects the proposed doubling would add the £275 million to £458 million range depending on player behaviour adjustments and venue responses once the higher rate takes effect.

Those who've reviewed the modelling explain that the upper end of the range assumes limited substitution to other gambling formats, whereas the lower end factors in possible reductions in machine usage after the tax rise lands.

Context Around Category B Machines

Category B machines, which include the £2-a-spin slots commonly found in adult gaming centres and some casinos, already operate under strict technical standards set by the Gambling Commission, and any duty change would sit alongside existing rules that limit stake sizes and game features in land-based venues.

Data from the report indicates these machines account for the bulk of the £600 million baseline figure, which means the proposed rate hike would concentrate its impact on the same segment of the high-street gambling market that has drawn repeated regulatory attention in recent years.

Timing Considerations for 2026

Discussions around the duty increase have surfaced alongside other regulatory updates scheduled for July 2026, including new licence conditions that require quicker removal of faulty gaming machines, and the alignment of these timelines could shape how operators prepare their financial forecasts if both the tax adjustment and the technical rules move forward together.

Researchers tracking the sector point out that venues operating large numbers of Category B machines would face combined pressures from higher duty and stricter compliance requirements, while the public support numbers in the think tank report suggest the tax element may encounter less political resistance than some other gambling reforms.

Broader Implications for High-Street Venues

Adult gaming centres and high-street casinos would absorb the direct cost of any duty increase, and the report outlines how the extra £275 million to £458 million could flow into government coffers without requiring changes to stake limits or machine numbers already capped by existing legislation.

Those monitoring planning appeals note that recent refusals for new 24-hour venues have hinged on noise and anti-social behaviour concerns rather than tax policy, yet the additional revenue potential highlighted in the think tank analysis could influence future budget discussions at both national and local levels.

Conclusion

The think tank report therefore supplies concrete polling numbers and revenue projections that centre on a single tax adjustment for Category B machines, and the figures place the potential extra yield between £275 million and £458 million annually while recording 43% public support for the underlying policy direction. The coverage links these elements to Andy Burnham's possible role and to the existing £600 million baseline, creating a focused picture of one proposed change rather than a wider overhaul of gambling taxation.