Gambling Minister Vicky Foxcroft Visits Grosvenor Casino Liverpool During Labour Party Conference

New Gambling Minister Vicky Foxcroft MP visited Grosvenor Casino Liverpool during the Labour Party Conference on Monday, meeting employees and learning more about the thousands of people whose jobs and careers are supported by Britain’s regulated betting and gaming industry.

In her first opportunity to engage directly with the sector since taking up the role, the Minister was particularly interested in hearing from colleagues working across the casino about their roles, their experiences of working in the industry and the career opportunities available across the sector.

The Minister visited the city-centre casino, operated by The Rank Group under its Grosvenor Casinos brand, to meet employees, learn more about the contribution land-based casinos make to jobs, tourism and the night-time economy, and see first-hand the measures in place to promote safer gambling and protect customers.

The visit was hosted by representatives from Grosvenor Casinos and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), including BGC CEO Grainne Hurst.

Casinos are an important source of employment across Britain, directly employing more than 10,000 people and supporting a further 3,700 jobs. The sector welcomes around 14 million customer visits each year, contributed £515 million in taxes in 2025 and generates an estimated £815 million for the economy.

Those jobs and economic benefits extend beyond casino venues themselves. Customers visiting casinos also support nearby hotels, restaurants, bars, taxis and late-night food businesses, meaning the closure of an established casino can have consequences for the wider local economy as well as its own workforce.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:

“We were delighted to welcome Vicky Foxcroft to Grosvenor Casino Liverpool for her first opportunity to engage directly with the sector since becoming Gambling Minister.

“It was particularly valuable for the Minister to meet the people who work in the industry, hear directly about their roles and careers, and see the contribution casinos make to jobs and local economies.

“Casinos support thousands of people in good jobs and play an important role in Britain’s hospitality and night-time economy, while providing a safe and highly regulated environment for customers.

“But the sector is under real pressure. Since 2019, 22 casinos have closed, with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs, and further tax rises risk undermining investment and putting more jobs and venues at risk.

“We look forward to working constructively with Vicky and the Government to support a thriving and sustainable regulated industry.”

David Williams, Director of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations at The Rank Group, said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister to Grosvenor's Liverpool casino and introduce her to some of the fantastic colleagues who make the venue such a special place.

“We were delighted that she came to meet people who were keen to showcase the wide range of roles available in casinos and who proudly explained the careers that can be pursued in a sector like ours.

“Casinos are major employers in local communities across the UK, and venues like Grosvenor Liverpool - which alone employs over 100 people - support the wider hospitality and night-time economy. We are looking to protect those jobs, create new opportunities and ensure that land-based casinos have a sustainable future in towns and cities throughout the country.”

The sector has warned that further increases in Machine Games Duty could intensify those pressures. Recent EY modelling cited by the BGC estimates that increasing Machine Games Duty to 40 per cent, as proposed by the Social Market Foundation, could result in the loss of up to 16,000 jobs, nearly 1,500 betting shops and as many as 34 casinos. The modelling also estimates that the Treasury could ultimately be £124 million worse off.

The BGC represents over 90 per cent of the regulated betting and gaming industry in the UK, including the land-based casino sector, bookmakers on high streets and online operators. BGC members support 109,000 jobs, contribute £6.8 billion to the economy and generate more than £4 billion in taxes.