Polling Reveals Public Backing for Tax Adjustments on Adult Gaming Centres

The Social Market Foundation released findings in late June 2026 that showed 43% of respondents supporting tax increases on adult gaming centres and casinos under a Labour government, while the same survey indicated lower enthusiasm for similar measures on other venues.

Those figures emerged against a backdrop of record revenues in the land-based gambling sector, where Category B £2 slot machines have generated substantial returns in recent years, and the data pointed to potential additional collections if duty rates were adjusted upward.

Details of the Proposed Duty Changes

Machine games duty currently stands at 20% on takings from these machines, and the analysis examined what doubling that rate to 40% might produce in extra revenue; projections placed the annual uplift between £275 million and £458 million on top of the existing £600 million already collected from the same category, which could push the combined total near an additional £460 million each year.

Category B machines operate primarily inside adult gaming centres and casinos, where stakes reach £2 per spin, whereas lower-stakes equivalents in pubs and other public houses would remain unaffected under the scenarios outlined in the polling exercise.

Context Around Sector Performance

Record takings have characterized the period leading into these discussions, with operators reporting consistent growth in machine-based play across high-street locations, and observers note that such performance has placed the sector under renewed scrutiny from policymakers evaluating fiscal options.

The Social Market Foundation's work connected these revenue trends directly to the polling numbers, showing how public attitudes align with proposals that target higher-stakes environments while preserving the status quo for machines found in more everyday settings.

Political Angles and Future Possibilities

Discussions around Andy Burnham entering the frame as a potential future prime minister have surfaced alongside the findings, with references to his past statements on gambling-related issues suggesting he might prioritize action in this area if elevated to that role.

Those conversations remain speculative at this stage, yet they tie into broader Labour Party considerations about revenue generation and regulatory balance, particularly as the party weighs measures that could affect adult gaming centres without extending similar duty changes to pub-based machines.

Data from the poll further indicated that support levels varied depending on how the tax rise was framed, with respondents showing clearer backing when the focus stayed on casinos and dedicated adult venues rather than widespread application across all gambling outlets.

Breakdown of Revenue Projections

Current machine games duty collections from Category B machines total around £600 million annually, according to sector figures referenced in the report, and the modeled increase to 40% would layer additional sums ranging from £275 million at the lower estimate to £458 million at the higher end.

Such calculations rest on assumptions about continued player volumes and machine utilization rates that have held steady or grown in recent quarters, and analysts connected those trends to the possibility of reaching roughly £460 million in combined incremental revenue if the duty adjustment took effect.

The distinction drawn in the proposals leaves machines offering lower maximum stakes in pubs outside the scope of any increase, which aligns with the polling emphasis on targeting adult gaming centres and casinos specifically.

Reactions and Sector Implications

Industry representatives have not issued formal responses in the immediate aftermath of the release, though the polling has prompted commentary on how operators might absorb or pass along higher duty costs should legislation advance.

Those following the issue point to the timing, coming just after peak revenue periods, as a factor that could influence negotiations between government officials and gambling businesses in the months ahead.

Conclusion

The Social Market Foundation's June 2026 polling and accompanying revenue modeling provide a snapshot of public sentiment and fiscal possibilities centered on adult gaming centres and casinos, with the 43% support figure and the £275 million to £458 million annual uplift range forming the core data points.

As conversations continue around potential leadership changes and policy priorities, the distinction between Category B machines in dedicated venues and lower-stakes options elsewhere remains a consistent element in the outlined scenarios. Further updates may emerge as the year progresses into July 2026 and beyond.