Entain Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stella David has again warned Chancellor John Healey against raising Machine Games Duty (MGD), as the operator’s retail revenue stalled over the past year.

Q3 results showed Entain expects to land towards the lower end of its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) guidance. On iGaming Daily, host Charlie Horner is joined by iGaming Expert’s Connor Porter and SBC News’ Patrick Killeen.

Group net gaming revenue rose 2%, with online up 3% and retail down 2%. Killeen noted the UK and Ireland did the heavy lifting, with online up 14%. Entain said growth would have been 5% without Brazil, though Killeen cautioned the update said little about the bottom line, given the first-half tax hit.

Porter was less convinced. Porter said: “I might be in the minority here, but I think it’s a bit of a mixed bag.” The UK figure reflected a full quarter of the higher Remote Gaming Duty, and he said Alberta’s launch flattered Canada’s double-digit growth.

Killeen highlighted a letter from members of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) opposing an MGD rise and calling for a pause on the General Betting Duty increase due in April 2027. Both guests agreed the jobs argument resonated better than the black market argument. Figures cited on the call suggested a rise could mean around 1,500 shop closures and 16,000 job losses.

Brazil’s revenue fell 36%, reflecting the wind-down of unprofitable volume before President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s betting ban landed five days before quarter end. Killeen said Entain expected the market to reopen, with Sportingbet well placed.

Watch the full discussion here.