Public Support Emerges for Raising Machine Games Duty on High-Street Slots

The Social Market Foundation released polling and analysis in late June 2026 that outlines 43 percent public backing for doubling the Machine Games Duty from 20 percent to 40 percent on Category B machines, which allow £2 spins in adult gaming centres and casinos, and the figures show this adjustment could generate between £275 million and £458 million in additional revenue each year while the current yield from the duty already stands at £600 million annually.

Data from the think tank focuses on machines located in high-street venues often described as slot sheds, whereas lower-stake machines found in pubs would remain unaffected by the proposed increase, and the distinction appears designed to concentrate any extra tax burden on higher-intensity gambling locations.

Breakdown of the Proposed Tax Changes

Category B machines represent a specific class of gaming equipment that operates under the current 20 percent duty rate, so raising that rate to 40 percent would apply only to those £2-per-spin units situated inside adult gaming centres and casinos, while the analysis makes clear that machines with lower maximum stakes in other settings such as pubs would continue at the existing rate, and this targeted approach forms a central element of the report released by the Social Market Foundation.

Revenue projections contained in the polling indicate the extra income could range from £275 million to £458 million on top of the £600 million already collected, which means total annual receipts from Machine Games Duty might climb to between £875 million and £1.058 billion if the change took effect, and the numbers rest on current usage patterns observed across the sector.

Political Connections and Timing

Observers note that the timing of the release coincides with discussions around potential leadership changes, particularly references to Andy Burnham and his previous statements criticizing the impact of certain gambling venues on vulnerable communities, and any future policy action would depend on whether such criticisms translate into legislative steps if Burnham were to assume the role of prime minister.

The report itself stops short of endorsing any single political figure yet records the public support levels alongside these revenue estimates, which allows readers to connect the polling data with broader debates about gambling regulation that have surfaced during 2026.

Public Opinion Figures and Survey Details

Polling conducted for the Social Market Foundation found 43 percent of respondents in favour of the duty increase on the specified Category B machines, and the survey results also capture views on the distinction between high-street adult gaming centres and other venues, which helps illustrate where public sentiment sits regarding different types of gambling locations across the UK.

Additional context from the analysis shows that support levels vary when questions focus on protecting lower-stake options in community settings such as pubs, and the data reveals a pattern where people appear more willing to accept higher taxes on machines associated with higher spending intensity while preferring to leave pub-based machines untouched.

Industry Scope and Venue Distinctions

Adult gaming centres and casinos house the Category B machines that would face the doubled duty, whereas the report explicitly excludes lower-stakes equipment found in pubs from any proposed rise, and this separation underscores how the suggested tax adjustment targets specific segments of the high-street gambling landscape rather than applying uniformly across all venues.

Current duty collection already brings in £600 million yearly from Machine Games Duty overall, so the additional £275 million to £458 million would represent a substantial uplift concentrated on the higher-stake machines inside adult gaming centres and casinos, and figures from the think tank indicate that such an increase could reshape the tax contribution profile of those particular locations.

Revenue Projections in Context

The range of £275 million to £458 million in new revenue stems from modeling based on existing player volumes and machine numbers, which means actual collections would depend on whether usage patterns remain steady after any duty change takes place, and the Social Market Foundation analysis presents these estimates alongside the 43 percent support figure to provide a combined view of public opinion and fiscal impact.

Because the proposal leaves pub machines at the current rate, the overall effect on the wider gambling market would stay focused on adult gaming centres and casinos, and this narrower scope appears intended to address concerns about high-street concentrations without altering the tax treatment of machines in other everyday settings.

Conclusion

The Social Market Foundation report from June 2026 supplies concrete polling numbers and revenue calculations around a potential doubling of Machine Games Duty on Category B machines, and the information distinguishes between venue types while linking the figures to ongoing political discussions without prescribing any particular course of action, which leaves the data available for policymakers and the public to consider in the months ahead.