The Conservative Party held its annual conference in Birmingham from 4-7 October, 2026, where Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Louie French criticised Labour’s potential increase to Machine Games Duty (MGD).

Speaking to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), French said: “The government foolishly think it’s a quick way to earn extra tax.” He then claimed the Treasury would lose more money than it would gain from the increase.

Labour has already introduced gambling tax rises this year. In April, Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) increased from 21% to 40%, a decision many in the industry criticised. Since then, a number of high-street gambling retailers have announced shop closures and staff reductions, often blaming by name, the RGD increase, claiming that the lose in online revenue forces brands to cut costs elsewhere.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey is rumoured to be considering an increase to MGD, which think tank the Social Market Foundation proposed in June. However, official confirmation of a rise is yet to appear.

The BGC video, titled “Louie French MP at Genting’s Resorts World Birmingham”, has the Shadow Minister flanked by a number of gambling machines, the same machines MGD would target.

French said Genting had already closed a casino in Coventry due to increased financial pressure.

He added: “That’s local jobs lost in that local economy, whether that’s chefs, people that are paid to clean or people that actually work in the casino itself.”

French concluded by asking the government to stop the potential rise to Machine Games Duty.