UK Slot Machine Reform Delayed

The current rule mandates that only 20% of machines in any AGC can be higher-stakes B3 machines, which allow for bigger bets and higher payouts. The rest must be lower-risk category C or D machines. The intent behind this policy has always been to balance business interests with consumer protection.

Plans to ease the ratio were floated in the government’s 2023 gambling white paper. At the time, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was exploring options to either increase the allowed share of B3 machines or eliminate the cap altogether. But recent developments (including a change in government) have put those ideas on hold indefinitely.

The primary reason? Concerns about how well the sector is managing problem gambling. A number of high-profile incidents, including a major fine levied against operator Merkur for misconduct involving a vulnerable customer, have cast doubt on the industry’s ability to regulate itself.

In response to the delay, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith voiced strong opposition to any increase in high-stakes machines, calling for tighter controls and deeper investigations into AGC practices.

Despite the setback, industry leaders are still pushing for change. John Bollom, president of trade group Bacta, said the decision was “disappointing” and that reform is crucial for adapting to customer trends and revitalising the sector. He also stressed that AGCs take player protection seriously and called on the government to revisit the discussion in the future.

AGCs have grown in number across the UK, even amid broader retail struggles. Their stability and relatively low costs have kept them afloat, but critics say this growth may be coming at the expense of public welfare.

For now, any shift in slot machine ratios will have to wait, as the government places a renewed focus on safeguarding vulnerable users and ensuring regulatory compliance alongside responsible gambling practises.