Listen to this article:Bingo Duty has officially been abolished from 1 April 2026, and the move has been welcomed by bingo halls, operators, and the wider land-based bingo industry across the UK.
Until now, Bingo Duty had been charged at 10% of profits, which was a significant burden for businesses running bingo in licensed premises. That has now changed. Under the new rules, clubs no longer need to pay the duty at all, significantly reducing the tax burden from an industry that has often called for better recognition of the social and community value it provides.
The abolition of Bingo Duty is a rare bit of good news for the industry. In recent times, there has been a greater focus on tightening rules and rising costs, and this is a clear sign of what the new UK budget means for bingo, as the government is not treating it in the same way.
This step is part of a broader package of gambling tax reforms, and bingo has come out of it far better than online casino gaming.
From 1 April 2026, Remote Gaming Duty has risen from 21% to 40%. This applies to remote gaming profits and is aimed at online casino products such as slots and digital table games. In justification for the huge increase, the government has said it considers remote gaming more harmful and less costly to operate than other forms of gambling.
Furthermore, more changes are coming. From 1 April 2027, a new 25% remote betting rate will be introduced within General Betting Duty. This will apply to online sports betting, with the exception of online bets on UK horse racing, which will stay at 15%.
Against this backdrop, the treatment of bingo clearly stands out. Instead of facing a higher duty, bingo has essentially been given tax relief. The government’s reasoning is that bingo is a lower-risk activity, that clubs support the community, and that removing the duty will help to simplify the tax system.
It is worth spending a bit of time looking at the thinking behind the change. The government has not just reduced costs for one part of the gambling industry without explaining itself. It has made a clear distinction between bingo and the forms of gambling it believes are more harmful.
In other words, the government has given its support to the belief that clubs are not just gambling venues, but also social spaces with an important role within the community that offer a very different experience to casinos and online casinos.
The removal of Bingo Duty should make life easier for struggling bingo halls. According to the government’s policy paper, 134 businesses will no longer need to pay the duty or submit Bingo Duty returns. Importantly, the one-off cost of adjusting to the new rules is expected to be negligible, and the continuing savings should be substantial.
The bingo industry supports around 7,000 jobs in the UK, and the hope is that these tax savings will help protect those jobs. Given that the UK government is using other gambling tax rises to raise over £1 billion a year from 2027, the removal of Bingo Duty is a real vote of confidence in clubs and the role they play.
In practical terms, the abolition of Bingo Duty should mean that clubs are now in a better position than they were last month. There is every chance that this will result in more investment, better promotions, and in-club improvements for players.
While it is good news, it does not mean the industry is free from pressure. Furthermore, many of the largest bingo operators also operate online casinos, and they will be using the savings to offset some of the effect of the increased tax on casino gambling. However, it is still undeniably good news for land-based operators and, therefore, for players as well.
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