BGC Launches Back Our Betting Shops Campaign

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has launched its Back Our Betting Shops campaign ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget, with concerns growing over potential increases to Machine Games Duty (MGD).

The initiative follows warnings from Entain and Betfred that higher MGD could force them to close some of their betting shops. The duty is charged on revenue generated through gaming machines.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said betting shops serve purposes beyond their commercial role, describing them as familiar high-street locations where people can work, meet and socialise.

The campaign comes as the government is expected to increase all three MGD rates. Under the proposed changes, the lowest rate would move from 5% to 10%, while the standard rate would increase from 20% to 40%. The highest rate would rise from 25% to 50%.

Through the campaign, the BGC is seeking to draw attention to the potential impact of these changes on land-based betting operators, their employees and retail businesses.

Hurst said the industry had already experienced thousands of betting shop closures and job losses, arguing that additional taxation could have effects beyond company financial results.

She added that Back Our Betting Shops is intended to bring attention to the people and communities potentially affected by further tax increases.

The BGC initiative follows the increases to Remote Gaming Duty and General Betting Duty in 2025. The British Horseracing Authority has also launched its #AxeTheRacingTax campaign, while The Sun has backed its Save Our Bets initiative.

The discussion is taking place alongside wider questions surrounding public funding and taxation. Dom Burnham has proposed that the UK could introduce an NHS-style social care system funded through a new approach to government revenue.