Entain hits out at new UK gambling tax rise, flags £25m retail cost
Entain plc said on 28 October 2026 that the UK Government's Budget decision to further increase gambling taxes would hurt the wider industry, estimating an annualised additional cost of about £25m to its UK&I Retail business.
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Entain plc said on 28 October 2026 that it had noted the UK Government’s Budget statement and its decision to further increase UK gambling taxes, describing itself as disappointed by the move on an industry it said was already highly taxed.
The group said the latest rise would have a detrimental impact on the wider industry, UK high streets, jobs and livelihoods, adding that it compounded pressures already facing the sector following tax increases announced in November 2025.
Entain said that, as a result of changes to UK Machine Gaming Duty, which will rise from 20% to 25% from 1 April 2027, it estimates an annualised additional cost to its UK&I Retail business of approximately £25m, before any mitigating measures.
The company said it operates the strongest offering on the UK high street and therefore anticipates an opportunity for customer recapture as peers re-evaluate their UK market presence. Entain said that through a combination of estate rationalisation, Group-wide optimisation initiatives and potential market share gains, it expects to fully mitigate the impact of the latest tax increase by the end of 2028.
The group confirmed that its FY26 guidance and its expectation of generating £500m annual adjusted cashflow in 2028 both remain unchanged. Entain said it will continue to take decisive actions to navigate and mitigate the impact of the additional taxes, citing its strong fundamentals and disciplined focus on growth and optimisation.
CEO Stella David said: “This is another disappointing decision by the Government. The previous gambling tax increases announced in November last year have already had detrimental consequences across the industry, with the effects being felt by employees, communities as well as customers. These additional tax changes will further compound that damage and push more people into the growing illegal market.”
Entain said its priority is to protect jobs wherever possible while supporting a sustainable retail presence on UK high streets.