# Gambling tax hike threatens 16,000 jobs as Ladbrokes cuts 400

> Government considers doubling slot machine tax while betting firms slash thousands of jobs after last year's tax raid.
- Title: Gambling tax hike threatens 16,000 jobs as Ladbrokes cuts 400
- Summary: Government considers doubling slot machine tax while betting firms slash thousands of jobs after last year's tax raid. A proposed doubling of slot machine…
- Keywords: andy burnham, john healey, entain, ladbrokes, coral, bet365, stella david, rachel reeves, machine gaming duty, gambling tax, job cuts, uk budget
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/money/markets/article-16135281/Ladbrokes-owner-Entain-set-slash-hundreds-jobs-reels-Budget-tax-raid.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-16T19:24:58+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: andy burnham, john healey, entain, ladbrokes, coral, bet365, stella david, rachel reeves, machine gaming duty, gambling tax, job cuts, uk budget
## Ladbrokes cuts 400 more jobs
Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is slashing 400 customer care jobs to stay competitive after tax increases.
## Government eyes slot machine tax hike
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey are considering doubling machine gaming duty to 40 percent in next month's Budget.
## Burnham targets betting shops
Burnham lumped betting shops with vape shops and dodgy businesses linked to organized crime in his plan to save Britain's high streets.
## Industry warns of massive job losses
Gambling bosses say the tax increase could cost nearly 16,000 jobs across bingo halls, bookies, and slot machine venues.
## Sector reeling from previous tax raid
Rachel Reeves already hiked remote gaming duty to 40 percent and online sports betting tax to 25 percent last year.
## Over 4,500 jobs already gone
Bet365 cut 300 jobs in Stoke-on-Trent days earlier, adding to more than 4,500 cuts across the industry since Labour's Budget.
## Key takeaway

A proposed doubling of slot machine tax could cost 16,000 jobs on top of 4,500 already cut since Labour's last gambling tax increase.