The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will introduce new rules from July 29, 2026, that will demand the removal of all non-compliant gaming machines from casinos. The current Gambling Act 2005 requires land-based license holders to ensure that their on-site gaming machines are compliant with consumer use regulations. This means that faulty machines have to be
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will introduce new rules from July 29, 2026, that will demand the removal of all non-compliant gaming machines from casinos.
The current Gambling Act 2005 requires land-based license holders to ensure that their on-site gaming machines are compliant with consumer use regulations. This means that faulty machines have to be taken care of before a second inspection is conducted.
However, the new rules require gaming machines to be immediately removed from a casino if the UKGC finds manufacturing, supplier, installation, adaptation, maintenance, or repair issues.
The decision came after the January 2025 consultation on the Gaming Machine Technical Standards.
UKGC Executive Director of Research and Policy, Tim Miller, stated:
“The White Paper sets out that a top priority is ensuring that gambling happens safely. We share this commitment, and today’s consultation proposes how we could implement gaming machine changes in the land-based sector. We recognize that regulatory changes that impact the design of machines can come with considerable costs. We are encouraging consumers, gambling businesses, and other interested groups to share evidence that will assist us in measuring both the likely regulatory impacts of the proposed changes and the likely costs of implementing them. This evidence will be invaluable to helping make a robust assessment on whether the benefits to consumers are proportionate to the costs involved.”
This change will mark the first big policy update for gaming machines since the DCMS decided to keep the 80/20 rule on ratios in gaming centers and bingo venues.