“A Hole In The Bucket": Risky Illegal Gambling Sites Need to Be Addressed
As the chancellor is reported to be considering a higher taxes on slot machines, WhichBingo warns that players are still at risk from illegal gambling sites, as operators warn of closures.
Speculation around John Healey’s first budget on October 28 has focused on potential increases in Machine Games Duty, which applies to slot machines, electronic roulette and fruit machines.
The proposed increases are intended to reduce gambling harm, but WhichBingo managing editor Nic McBride says that the first focus should be on protecting UK players from illegal casino sites.
- The Proposed Changes
- “A Hole In The Bucket”
- Operators Could be ‘Collateral Damage’
- Bingo Hopeful of Support
Remote Gaming Duty went up from 21% to 40% in April and suggestions are that MGD at betting shops, AGCs, bingo halls and casinos will follow suit in October. This would impact online operators that also have physical stores.
The Proposed Changes
The Social Market Foundation (a cross-party think tank) has proposed doubling the current 20% MGD rate to 40%.
It estimated the tax could generate up to £275 million, or £458 million annually (assuming no change in gambling behaviour).
The SMF calculated the current economic loss from machine-related harms at £2.33 billion annually. This included £669 million associated with welfare, housing, crime and health services.
“A Hole In The Bucket”
WhichBingo managing editor Nic McBride said the black market needed to be prioritised or it would continue to put UK players’ money and wellbeing at risk.
“Illegal sites don’t have to offer fair terms, and don’t have to protect UK players from problem gambling.
“These sites are still a hole in the bucket.
“However much you pour in to protect UK players, there’s still a leak.”
The UKGC’s own data shows UK players spent an estimated 150-200 million minutes at illegal casinos in January 2026 (the most recent data available). And this estimate was made prior to the Remote Gaming Duty increase, so we are yet to see the impact since then.
WhichBingo’s UK Bingo & Casino Players Survey 2026 echoed the allure of illegal sites: 6.6% of 18-24 year old players reported depositing with a black-market operator and 17% of them have been tempted.
25-34 year olds were the most likely age group to have deposited, with 7% claiming to have deposited at a black market site.
However these illegal sites operate outside UK law so don’t have to cap wagering requirements at 10x, and don’t have to offer deposit limits and other responsible gambling checks.
“UK sites have obligations to keep players safe, and offer fair terms. We’ve seen illegal sites that lure unsuspecting players with massive bonuses, but catch them out with wagering requirements up to 50x. And UK players have no practical recourse.”
WhichBingo’s investigating in October 2026 found a site claiming to offer up to £10,000 in bonuses, but with 50x wagering attached and only 3 days before the bonus expired. That would be half a million pounds to be wagered in just 72 hours. On top of that the offer had a max bet of £5, which would require the player to make 100,000 bets.
Operators Could be ‘Collateral Damage’
In an interview with The Times, Rank chief executive Richard Harris, who runs Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos, said Britain’s bingo halls and casinos could become “collateral damage”.
Harris said further taxes could lead to venue closures and job losses and urged the chancellor to avoid “reckless” action.
Meanwhile, Entain CEO Stella David said that doubling the current MGD rate to 40% could increase its operational expenses for retail by £100 million annually.
The Betting and Gaming Council also warned that up to 16,000 jobs and nearly 1,500 betting shops could be lost.
The council said a tax increase could jeopardise other community associations that rely on regulated gaming machines to help fund the services.
Bingo Hopeful of Support
A change in the November 2025 budget scrapped bingo duty as of April 2026, and Bingo Association CEO Nicole Garrett (pictured below) credits that with giving many bingo clubs breathing room.
In a previous interview with WhichBingo she said the relief has been absorbed almost as quickly as it arrived.
“We’ve had a lot of cost pressures and we continue to, whether it’s business rates, staffing or energy bills.
“We are very reliant on the tax landscape and the business landscape staying consistent, because we are quite vulnerable to those sorts of changes.”
Garrett had previously stated she was hopeful that the support would continue.
“We just hope that the new government continues that support for bingo, because they do seem to have recognised the community benefit and supported us because of that.”
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