Bingo duty in the UK stays the same – and is about to vanish

With the UK government reshaping gambling duties, the most striking feature of the Autumn Budget 2025 for bingo halls is what didn’t happen: the bingo tax wasn’t raised. At 10% on bingo promotion profits, the duty has remained unchanged since Chancellor George Osborne halved it in 2014. That steady rate now stands on the brink of abolition; legislation in the Finance Bill 2025‑26 will repeal the duty from 1 April 2026. In other words, bingo duty UK stays the same for one final year before it disappears – a decision that reflects both the Treasury’s revenue strategy and the social role of bingo.

Bingo halls are more than a revenue stream

Bingo may evoke flashing lights and cash prizes, but for many communities it remains a social anchor. A House of Commons briefing observed that around 400 bingo clubs operated across the UK and that the sector raised £75 million in bingo duty in 2012/13. Those halls support jobs and provide social space for older and lower‑income customers, and successive governments have acknowledged that value. When ministers cut the duty from 20% to 10% in 2014, the official policy papers noted that “bingo halls play an important role in their local communities” and that the reduction was intended to support them. Hansard records show then‑Chancellor Osborne telling MPs that bingo duty would be halved to “protect jobs and protect communities”.

The cut had a marked effect: the duty has remained at 10% ever since, even as other gambling taxes rose or were reformed. Industry lobbying and the perception of bingo as a low‑harm, socially embedded activity helped maintain that stability. Contrast that with the introduction of machine games duty, remote gaming duty and other levies in the last decade, which targeted forms of gambling seen as more harmful or more profitable. In that context, the government’s choice to leave bingo duty untouched in the latest Budget was not inertia but deliberate policy.

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A tax that stayed the same for a decade

Understanding the stability of the bingo duty requires a brief history. Until 2003, bingo duty was charged on total stakes and added prize money; it then shifted to a gross profits tax at 15%. Financial pressures on the industry saw the rate raised to 22% in 2009 before lobbying prompted a cut to 20 per cent a year later. The 2014 Budget made a bolder move, reducing the rate to 10 per cent from June 2014. That change, justified by the sector’s community role, cost the Exchequer about £30 million in the first year.

Since then, the duty has generated a modest but stable stream of revenue. HMRC guidance sets out that bingo promoters must pay 10% of their bingo promotion profits – receipts from participation fees and stakes minus winnings – for each accounting period, forming part of the wider tax rules for bingo halls UK. This applies only to in‑person bingo; remote or online gaming is taxed under separate regimes. The persistence of the 10 percent rate stands out when compared with the shift towards taxing remote gambling. Remote gaming duty, introduced at 15% in 2007, will jump from 21% to 40% from April 2026, while a new 25% rate for remote betting arrives in 2027.

Autumn Budget 2025: no change today, abolition tomorrow

The government’s consultation on remote gambling concluded that the duty system needed modernisation but should be differentiated between high-risk and low-risk activities. The summary of responses emphasised that bingo is a “lower risk gambling activity that supports communities across the UK”. As a result, ministers decided to preserve the duty unchanged for 2025/26 and abolish it entirely from 1 April 2026. The same policy paper notes that repealing bingo duty will simplify the system by removing one of seven gambling duties.

This decision sits alongside a significant tax hike for online gambling. By raising remote gaming duty to 40% and introducing a remote betting duty of 25%, the Treasury aims to extract revenue from sectors with lower overheads and higher perceived harm. Bingo halls, with their physical premises and local employment, are spared this increase. Maintaining the 10% duty for another year ensures continuity for operators and prevents a cliff‑edge reduction in receipts before the duty’s abolition.

What the status quo means for bingo operators under bingo duty UK

For UK bingo promoters, the immediate message is: keep paying the duty until 31 March 2026. HMRC’s excise notice requires promoters to calculate bingo receipts, deduct winnings, and remit 10% of the resulting profits under bingo duty UK. Returns must continue to be filed on the usual schedule, and operators should keep detailed records of receipts and payouts. Small‑scale bingo at travelling fairs or in societies remains exempt, but commercial halls and clubs are not.

As the abolition approaches, there are practical points to consider:

• Final duty return – the last duty accounting period before 1 April 2026 will need a final return. Ensure systems can separate periods before and after abolition.
• Cash flow planning – freed‑up cash from the removal of duty could support refurbishment, marketing or staff training. Preparing a budget now helps maximise the benefit.
• Remote operations – online bingo sites may be taxed as remote gaming; under the new rules, remote gaming duty at 40% could apply. Operators offering both in‑person and online games should review their product mix and corporate structures.
• Compliance with other duties – bingo halls often operate gaming machines that are subject to machine games duty, which forms part of wider bingo halls tax compliance UK obligations. Abolition of bingo duty does not affect these obligations.

Beyond bingo: a wider gamble on tax policy

The differentiation between land‑based bingo and remote gambling illustrates a broader shift. The government’s consultation response stresses that remote gambling has grown by over 60% since 2015/16 while land‑based gambling has declined. By targeting online gaming, ministers hope to discourage harmful behaviour and harness revenue from a growing digital sector. Abolishing bingo duty, on the other hand, signals support for leisure activities that encourage face‑to‑face socialising. Businesses in the broader leisure and hospitality sector should note this policy trajectory: low‑harm, community‑based activities may find a friend in future Budgets, while digital or high‑risk operations face tougher tax regimes.

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How Apex Accountants & Tax Advisors can help

Navigating the end of bingo duty requires more than simply waiting for 1 April 2026. Our specialist tax team can assist with:

• Compliance reviews – supporting strong bingo halls tax compliance UK by ensuring accounting systems accurately calculate bingo promotion profits and file final duty returns.
• Cash‑flow and investment planning – projecting the financial impact of duty abolition and modelling how to reinvest savings.
• Classification advice – determining whether online bingo products fall under remote gaming or betting duties and optimising your business structure accordingly.
• Indirect tax strategy – assessing exposure to machine games duty, VAT and other indirect taxes to avoid surprises.

With decades of experience advising leisure and hospitality businesses, Apex Accountants can offer tailored support through this transition. Contact us today to arrange a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current rate of bingo tax?

The duty on in‑person bingo remains at 10% of bingo promotion profits. The rate has been unchanged since June 2014.

When will the bingo duty change?

The Finance Bill 2025‑26 repeals bingo duty from 1 April 2026. Operators must continue to file and pay the 10 per cent duty until then under the current tax rules for bingo halls UK.

Who has to pay bingo duty?

Any bingo promoter running commercial games on licensed premises must register and pay bingo duty. Small-scale bingo organised by societies, travelling fairs, or at home remains exempt.

How do I calculate bingo duty?

Any bingo promoter running commercial games in licensed premises must register and pay bingo duty. Small-scale bingo organised by societies, travelling fairs, or at home remains exempt.

How do I calculate bingo duty?

HMRC requires promoters to add up bingo receipts (participation fees and stakes), deduct winnings, and apply the 10 per cent rate to the resulting profit. Detailed records must be kept.

What happens to online bingo under the new regime?

Online or remote bingo may fall within remote gaming duty, which will increase to 40% from April 2026. Businesses offering remote games should seek advice to ensure correct classification and compliance.

Does the abolition of the bingo duty affect any other gambling taxes?

No. Machine game duty, gaming duty at casinos, and general betting duty remain in force. Remote gaming and betting duties will rise sharply, while land‑based betting duty stays at 15 per cent.