Gambling sectors

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
Tick            
B2
Max £100 stake
(in multiples of £10)
and max £500 prize
Tick Tick          
B3
Max £2 stake and
max £500 jackpot
Tick Tick Tick Tick      
B3a
Max £1 stake and max
£500 jackpot lottery-style
          Tick  
B4
Max £1 stake and
max £250 jackpot
Tick Tick Tick Tick   Tick  
C
Max £1 stake and
max £70 jackpot
Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick
D
Max 10p stake and
max £5 cash jackpot
or max 30p stake and
max £8 non-money prize
Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick

 

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, but only when you are the person making that gaming machine available for use on your own licensed premises. 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 licenceto 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: August 2012

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