<p>Hundreds of adult gaming centres in England have bingo licences that still qualify them for discounted business rates</p><p>Hundreds of high street “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/29/inside-the-slot-farms-targeted-in-budget-gambling">slot farms</a>” could continue claiming a discount on their business rates, unless the government closes a loophole that allows them to pose as bingo halls.</p><p>John Healey singled out adult gaming centres (AGCs) in his first budget this week, in which he increased duty on slot machine takings from 20% to 25%, claiming he was “raising taxes on gambling to support good growth on every high street”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/nov/01/high-street-slot-farms-budget-tax-rise-business-rates-bingo-licence-loophole">Continue reading...</a>
World
High street ‘slot farms’ could evade budget tax rise through bingo hall loophole
<p>Hundreds of adult gaming centres in England have bingo licences that still qualify them for discounted business rates</p><p>Hundreds of high street “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/29/inside-the-slot-farms-targeted-in-budget-gambling">slot farms</a>” could continue claiming a discount on their business rates, unless the government closes a loophole that allows them to pose as bingo halls.</p><p>John Healey singled out adult gaming centres (AGCs) in his first budget this week, in which he increased duty on slot machine takings from 20% to 25%, claiming he was “raising taxes on gambling to support good growth on every high street”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/nov/01/high-street-slot-farms-budget-tax-rise-business-rates-bingo-licence-loophole">Continue reading...</a>