Ladbrokes owner Entain and Rank warn Budget gambling tax hikes will close shops and kill jobs

The interior of a Grosvenor Casino, whose parent company Rank Group warns that any rise in Machine Games Duty would force venue closures and halt investment.

Two of Britain's biggest gambling companies have warned the government that additional tax rises in this month's Budget will shut venues and destroy jobs. Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, and Rank Group, which operates Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo, each posted UK growth figures but said the threat of higher taxation has already put investment on hold. Entain chief executive Stella David called on John Healey to think again, cautioning that increases would "threaten the viability of many shops, jobs and livelihoods." The Budget falls on 28 October.

Rank chief executive Richard Harris said any increase in Machine Games Duty would directly lead to venue closures and a halt to investment.

Rank posted like-for-like net gaming revenue of £216.1m, a five per cent increase year-on-year, yet argues the tax threat eclipses that growth.

The Treasury is broadly expected to target gambling operators as Healey seeks fresh revenue against a backdrop of rising borrowing costs.

AOL News UKUK gambling tax hikes could cause closures and job cuts, Entain and Rank warn Daily MailBudget tax raid on gambling will trigger jobs bloodbath, Healey warned LBCGambling tax hikes will cause closures and job cuts, say Entain and Rank City A.M.Entain and Rank warn Budget tax hikes threaten betting shops and jobs Yorkshire PostGambling tax increases will cause job cuts, say Entain and Rank

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