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DCMS proposes changes to land-based gambling rules in the UK

Regulation

The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport proposed changes to land-based gambling rules after reviewing consultation responses. The proposals include allowing certain casinos up to 80 gaming machines, changing machine ratios in arcades and bingo halls, permitting direct debit card payments on machines, setting an age limit of 18 for cash-out Category D machines and increasing premises licence fees. The regulations will next be presented to Parliament; the Betting and Gaming Council, Rank Group and Bacta welcomed the proposals.

Operators may need to plan for proposed changes to machine allocations, payments and licence fees, subject to parliamentary consideration.

End-of-day close Rank Group (RNK), GBp, to 1 July 2024
Story date2 April 20241 July 2024

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Rank Group LSE: RNK

Financial year ended 30 June 2026

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GBP 835.0m
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GBP 77.6m

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Regulation

Bacta says UK machine duty rise threatens seaside arcade income

The UK’s increase in Machine Games Duty from 20% to 25% for higher-value category B machines does not protect all seaside arcade income, the British Amusement Catering Trade Association said. Category C machines remain taxed at 20% and category D machines at 5%; Bacta said income from category B machines in adult gaming centre sections helps support wider arcade operations, but it has not yet assessed how many machines will face the higher rate.

Machine Games Duty is rising from 20% to 25% solely for higher-value category B gaming machines, according to the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta). Many traditional seaside arcades depend on revenue from those machines to sustain their broader operations. The association said the chancellor’s attempt to shield pubs and seaside amusements did not fully reflect how coastal businesses operate.

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