# Budget raises tax on gambling centres as critics warn of risks to vulnerable people

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/how-100-vanishes-in-minutes-inside-the-slot-farms-targeted-in-the-budget/
- Published: 2026-10-29T14:00:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T14:32:49+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/29/inside-the-slot-farms-targeted-in-budget-gambling
- Topics: Business, Entertainment, Gaming, Space, Technology

## Key points

- Gambling tax on machines rises to 25%.
- Slot machine losses reached £2.7bn last year.
- Critics say centres can encourage prolonged play.

## Summary

Adult gaming centres, often called “slot farms”, are facing a tax rise as the government seeks to curb the costs of gambling and raise revenue. The article describes how customers can lose money rapidly on slot machines, and why critics say the centres’ locations and practices put vulnerable people at risk.

The chancellor has raised machine games duty from 20% to 25%, a change expected to bring in nearly £150m a year. Britain’s gamblers lost £2.7bn on slot machines last year, while popular B3 terminals allow stakes of £2 every 2.5 seconds for jackpots of up to £500. Each machine earns about £40,000 a year on average; centres may offer snacks, drinks and free spins, and some operate around the clock.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.