UK land-based casinos help attract visitors to town and city centres, support neighbouring businesses and strengthen the night-time economy, according to a new report by the Night Time Industries Association.
Beyond Gaming: The Evolution of Britain’s Land-Based Casinos as Nightlife Destinations found that 41.1% of surveyed casino guests would otherwise have stayed at home, while 55% said they probably or definitely would not have visited the local area without the casino.
Additionally, 72.1% reported using at least one other local business during their visit. The findings suggest that UK casinos generate economic activity beyond their own premises, encouraging spending at restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses in surrounding areas.
Casinos Support Local Businesses
Currently, there are 108 licensed land-based casinos across Britain. They attract approximately 14 million customer visits every year and support over 14,000 direct and indirect jobs.
According to the NTIA report, the sector contributes £815 million in gross value added to the UK economy and generated £515 million in tax revenues in 2025.
The research also highlights the role casinos play in the wider visitor economy. Some 58% of surveyed customers said the casino was the main reason for visiting the area, while a further 27% said it was one of several reasons.
Beyond the casino itself, 39% of customers shared that they spent at another restaurant or bar during their visit. Meanwhile, 31% used taxis or other transport, 30% visited retail businesses, and 13% spent money at a hotel other than the casino.
Average reported spending by customer parties outside casino premises reached £86.80, while average total spending associated with a casino visit was £204.50.
The report also points to the sector’s broader employment contribution. Casino employees have spent an average of 12.8 years working in the industry, while 75% see casino work as a long-term career. In addition, 87% said their skills were transferable to hospitality and customer-service roles.
NTIA chief executive Michael Kill commented that casinos provide an important reason for people to visit town and city centres.
“Britain’s high streets need businesses that give people a reason to leave home and spend time in our towns and cities.”
Hospitality and Entertainment Opportunities
Furthermore, the report underlines casinos’ role in combining gaming with restaurants, bars, live entertainment and other leisure activities.
Around 67% of participants from the survey admitted they had visited a bar and 53% had dined at the casino during their most recent visit. Another 79% of respondents agreed that visiting a casino was a good way to socialise with friends or family.
On the topic of where casinos should invest, roughly 43% said live music or entertainment, while 37% wanted improvement of dining options. The same ratio was in favour of expanding daytime activities that do not involve gambling, while 33% backed more comfortable social areas.
The report also found that 54% of people who had not visited a casino would be more likely to do so if venues offered good dining, bars or entertainment without requiring customers to gamble.
NTIA argues that these findings demonstrate the potential for casinos to develop into broader hospitality and entertainment destinations, and attract different audiences and support activity throughout the evening and night.
The sector is also looking to build on regulatory changes introduced in July 2025, which created new opportunities for brick-and-mortar casinos to modernise and diversify their offerings.
Participating operators reported investment plans across several areas, including technology, refurbishment, food and beverage, and entertainment. NTIA’s report found that 78% planned or had undertaken technology investment, while 70% reported refurbishment investment or plans.
Overall, the industry has identified approximately £200 million in planned capital investment in the next five years. This also includes a proposed £50 million destination casino project at London’s Trocadero.
Tax Uncertainty Threatens Investment Plans
Despite the immense investment potential, the NTIA warned that uncertainty surrounding a potential increase to Machine Games Duty could undermine business confidence. The report insists that further tax increases could affect operators’ ability to invest in their venues, maintain staff and support local suppliers.
A survey of 23 participating operators found that 78% identified uncertainty about future taxation as a barrier to new investment. If faced with a significant tax increase, 95.7% expected to reduce staffing, while 91.3% anticipated cutting venue investment. Meanwhile, 78.3% said they would reduce spending on suppliers or contractors.
Sector-commissioned modelling by EY analysed a scenario in which MGD increased to 40%. The analysis estimated that such a change could put 34 casinos and 3,800 direct and indirect jobs at risk, alongside £100 million in planned investment. It also projected a potential £73 million reduction in tax receipts.
The report stressed that these figures represent a modelled scenario rather than a prediction of inevitable outcomes. Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Grainne Hurst said the sector needed assurance that recent regulatory changes would deliver investment and wider economic benefits.
She added that the approximately £200 million in planned investment represented an opportunity to deliver further benefits for local communities, but warned that additional tax pressures could hold back growth.
Seeking Resolution
The NTIA is calling on the Government to allow the 2025 reforms time to deliver results and assess their impact over a meaningful period before introducing further significant fiscal pressures.
It also wants land-based casinos to be recognised within wider hospitality, tourism, high street and night-time economy strategies, with their contribution measured through employment, investment, visitor spending and local procurement.
The report concludes that a stable and predictable policy environment will be important if casinos are to expand their hospitality and entertainment offerings while supporting jobs, neighbouring businesses and economic activity across Britain.
