UK Operators Register Slot Venues as Bingo Halls to Address Duty Changes
Jordan Jenkins · Nov 4, 2026
UK Operators Register Slot Venues as Bingo Halls to Address Duty Changes
Analysis of records from the Gambling Commission reveals that more than 200 adult gaming centres across the UK now hold bingo hall registrations, even though their primary operations centre on slot and roulette machines. This approach allows companies such as Merkur and Admiral to operate under a licensing category that sidesteps the machine games duty increase from 20 percent to 25 percent, a measure introduced in the autumn Budget and set to take effect later this year.
Background on the Duty Adjustment
The government implemented the duty rise alongside the removal of certain business rates discounts that previously applied to the sector. Data compiled from licensing submissions shows these venues continue to function as high-street locations focused on electronic gaming terminals rather than traditional bingo activities. Observers note that the distinction between bingo halls and adult gaming centres has become less clear in recent registration patterns, with operators updating their premises details to reflect the alternative category.
Records indicate that the shift began appearing in filings submitted around the time the Budget announcements were made. Companies maintain compliance with the technical requirements of bingo licensing while directing the majority of floor space and revenue toward machine play. Figures from the Gambling Commission list specific addresses where slot machines outnumber bingo facilities by significant margins, yet the overall licence type remains listed as bingo.
Scale of the Registrations
More than 200 such premises appear in the latest available data, representing a notable portion of the high-street estate operated by larger groups. Merkur and Admiral feature prominently among the entities with multiple sites registered in this manner. The pattern allows these operators to calculate machine games duty under the framework associated with bingo premises rather than the standard adult gaming centre rate. This distinction carries direct financial implications once the 25 percent rate applies in full.
Local authority records cross-referenced with Gambling Commission entries confirm that many of these locations previously operated under adult gaming centre licences before the Budget changes. The transition in registration status coincides with the period when operators received notification of the duty hike and the loss of rates relief. Industry filings show no corresponding increase in actual bingo participation at these addresses, keeping the operational focus on slots and roulette terminals.
Regulatory Context and Licensing Categories
Under current rules, bingo premises operate under a separate duty structure from adult gaming centres, even when both categories permit similar machine content. The Gambling Commission maintains separate registers for each licence type, and operators must meet specific conditions to hold bingo status. Data from the regulator shows that the 200-plus venues satisfy the minimum criteria for bingo licensing while allocating the bulk of their gaming floor to terminals that fall under machine games duty calculations.
Those who have examined the filings point out that the loophole stems from differences in how premises are classified rather than any change in the games themselves. Bingo licences carry their own set of compliance obligations, yet the duty rate applied to machines remains lower in this category. Companies have adjusted their licensing paperwork accordingly, resulting in the observed increase in bingo-registered sites on high streets nationwide.
Impact on Specific Operators
Merkur operates dozens of high-street locations that now appear under bingo registrations in the latest Commission data. Admiral follows a similar pattern with multiple venues across different regions. Both organisations continue to trade under their established brands while the underlying licence category determines the applicable duty rate. The approach preserves the existing business model centred on slot and roulette play without triggering the higher 25 percent rate scheduled to begin after the Budget implementation date.
Local planning and licensing documents further illustrate how these sites retain their physical layout and machine counts while the administrative classification shifts. The change in registration status does not alter customer access or the range of games offered, keeping the day-to-day experience consistent with prior operations as adult gaming centres.
Timeline and Future Considerations
The duty adjustment takes full effect following the autumn Budget announcements, with the 25 percent rate applying to machine games in the standard adult gaming centre category. Venues that completed the switch to bingo licensing ahead of this date fall outside the immediate scope of the increase. Commission records continue to be updated as operators submit further amendments, and the total count of such registrations may shift depending on subsequent filings through 2026.
November 2026 has been referenced in some regulatory planning documents as a potential review point for licensing categories, although no formal changes have been confirmed at this stage. Operators remain subject to ongoing oversight from the Gambling Commission, which monitors both the accuracy of registrations and compliance with machine limits attached to each licence type.
Conclusion
The pattern identified in Gambling Commission records demonstrates how licensing categories influence duty calculations for high-street gaming venues. Over 200 sites now registered as bingo halls continue to operate primarily with slot and roulette machines, allowing companies including Merkur and Admiral to address the effects of the rate rise from 20 percent to 25 percent. The situation rests on existing differences between premises types rather than any new legislative provision, and the data remains available for review through the regulator's public registers.