What operating licences do I need - gaming machines?
The following types of licence apply to gaming machine
businesses. Please read the details below to see which licence you
need:
If you already hold, or are applying for, a full operating
licence you may also, in certain circumstances, apply for a
linked gaming machine
licence.
If your business is not remote, you can also apply for an
ancillary remote licence which
allows you to supply gaming machine software by email.
Non-remote gaming machine technical - full
The non-remote version of this licence allows you to
manufacture, adapt, install, repair, maintain and supply all
categories of gaming machine, parts of a gaming machine or gaming
machine software. You are responsible for making sure all your
machines comply with the gaming machine technical standards for
their category. Apply for an operating licence.
You can supply the following categories to licensed gambling
businesses in Great Britain:
| Category |
Casinos |
Betting
shops |
Bingo
halls |
AGCs |
FECs |
Clubs |
Pubs |
A
Unlimited stake and unlimited prize fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B1
Max £2 stake and
max £4,000 jackpot |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
B2
Max £100 stake
(in multiples of £10)
and max £500 prize |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B3
Max £2 stake and
max £500 jackpot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B3a
Max £1 stake and max
£500 jackpot lottery-style |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B4
Max £1 stake and
max £250 jackpot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C
Max £1 stake and
max £70 jackpot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D
Max 10p stake and
max £5 cash jackpot
or max 30p stake and
max £8 non-money prize |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-remote gaming machine technical – supplier
This licence allows you to adapt, install, maintain, repair and
supply all categories
of gaming machine or part of a gaming machine. All the machines you
supply to gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain must comply
with the gaming machine technical standards for their category.
Apply
for an operating licence.
Non-remote gaming machine technical – software
This licence allows you to manufacture, supply, install or adapt
gaming machine software for all categories of gaming
machine. This licence does not allow you to repair gaming machine
software, or to supply software using remote means, such as the
internet. Apply for an operating licence.
Remote gaming machine technical – full
This licence allows you to manufacture, adapt, install,
maintain, repair and supply all categories of gaming
machine or part of a gaming machine through the internet or other
remote communication methods.
All the machines or gaming machine software you supply to
gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain must comply with the
gaming machine technical standards for their category. Apply for an
operating licence.
Remote gaming machine technical – supplier
This licence allows you to supply, adapt, install, repair
or maintain gaming machines or part of a gaming machine through the
internet or other remote communication methods.
All the machines or gaming machine software you supply to
gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain must comply with the
gaming machine technical standards for their category. Apply for an
operating licence.
Remote gaming machine technical – software
This licence allows you to manufacture, supply, install or adapt
gaming machine software for all categories of gaming
machine by remote means, for example through the internet. This
licence does not allow you to repair gaming machine software, or to
supply software through non-remote channels. Apply for an
operating licence.
Linked gaming machine licence
If you already hold, or are applying for, a full operating
licence which allows you to provide facilities for gaming machines,
you may apply for a linked gambling software or supplier
licence. The linked licence allows you to supply,
install, adapt, maintain or repair a gaming machine, or part
of a gaming machine. The total cost of carrying out these
activities must be no more than £50,000 per year to qualify for a
linked gaming machine licence. If you exceed this amount you must
apply for a gaming machine technical operating licence.
There are also
remote
versions of these licences which allow you to carry out these
activities by remote communication.
If you carry out the following actions you will need either a
linked or a gaming machine operating licence (depending on the cost
of carrying out the actions - see above):
- using an upgrade kit from a licensed supplier (eg download
and software installation of an EPROM)
- using a CD, memory stick or computer downloads to make software
changes
- modifications (adaptations) to any game logic security devices
(logic cage etc)
- making changes that alter the category of the
machine
- repairing machine parts where the component may have an effect
on the game outcome
- swapping out components that may affect the outcome of the game
(primary logic boards, game memory devices etc).
Ancillary remote
If you are applying for a non-remote gaming machines operating
licence, and you want to supply part of your service by email only,
you can add an
ancillary remote licence
to your main licence type. If you
supply part of your service by any other means of remote
communication you will need one of the remote gaming machine
technical licences listed above.
Page last reviewed: July 2011