Bacta Prepares “Budget Deep Dive” at Convention as Industry Awaits Government Signals

Bacta, is preparing what officials describe as a business-critical “Budget Deep Dive” at its Convention on 27 November - the day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers the Autumn Budget. 

Held at One Birdcage Walk in Westminster, the Convention promises early insight and analysis of the Budget’s implications for the amusement machine sector; including duty, taxation and regulation, as the industry faces heightened uncertainty. 

With confirmed keynote speakers such as Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the Gambling Commission, and a pending invitation to the Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross, Bacta says this could be one of the most influential Conventions in recent years. 

Bacta President Joseph Cullis warned that increased duty on machine gaming “cannot be passed on to our customers” and that any rise would come directly off the bottom line of operators.

He said: “Our industry is unique in that we cannot pass on any additional costs to our customers. This means that tax rises hit straight away, compounding the very real challenges of running a business such as an adult gaming centre.” 

In addition to live expert panels featuring National Council members and industry-operating specialists, the session will pay particular attention to broader macroeconomic issues: borrowing, tax policy, and consumer spending, all key metrics for the high-street machine sector. 

For amusement arcades, FECs and high-street machine operators, the timing is critical. With the sector’s investment decisions and upgrade cycles reliant on stable cost bases, the Convention offers a timely platform to hear early analysis of decisions that could impact everything from machine placements to staffing and revenue.

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30 October 2025

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