UK Amends Gambling Act 2005 To Restrict Casino Gaming Machines

New UK regulations have redefined “gaming table” to include only staff-operated tables, impacting casino machine allowances.

The amendment to the regulations aims to “ensure that these products do not count as a gaming table” because they do not “provide any of the benefits of a casino gaming table in contributing to a balanced mix or affording opportunities for social interaction.”

Effect of increased regulations

Fixed odds betting terminals that offer casino-style games in bookmaker shops have also been the subject of restrictions. Opponents claim that the fast-paced nature and lack of any social interaction lead to increased problem gambling. After the machines became widespread in betting shops in the early 2000s, the UK Gambling Act limited the number of machines to 4 per shop

Additionally, the maximum stake on the machines was cut from £100 to £2 for many games in 2018, which came into effect in 2019.

The UK Gambling Commission has also introduced stricter rules around betting advertising, including limiting the use of certain terms such as “risk-free bet”. European countries have also introduced stake limits and advertising restrictions, which has seen America, Canada and more recently Brazil catch up with their gambling industries.

Adam Roarty

Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.