Gaming machines seized in Southampton area
Press
release
Date: 1 May 2009
A multi-agency operation involving the Gambling Commission (the
Commission) has led to seven gaming machines being removed from
premises in Southampton.
Enforcement officers from Southampton City Council, with support
from the Gambling Commission and local police, carried out targeted
visits to takeaway-style premises with illegally sited gaming
machines.
Four of the illegally sited machines seized were found in a
single premises and a number of them breached the statutory prize
limit.
Rod Davis, the Commission's Compliance Manager covering the
Southampton area, said:
"The Gambling Commission's aim is to ensure that gambling is
crime-free, fair and safe for all. We can best achieve this with
co-operation and multi-agency working and this initiative is an
example of that in action."
A Southampton City Council spokesperson said:
"The City Council views the prevention of illegal gambling as an
enforcement priority and the fact these illegal machines were
situated in takeaway premises which are accessible by children and
other vulnerable persons was a cause for concern. It is hoped that
the enforcement action taken on this occasion will send out a clear
message that illegal gambling will not be tolerated in Southampton
and that we will continue to work closely with the other agencies
concerned to deal with it."
Manufacturers and suppliers of gaming machines must be licensed
with the Commission. When gaming machines are made available for
use on specific premises then operators must have either an
operating licence from the Commission and a premises licence from
their local licensing authority or, in some cases, a specific
permit from their local licensing authority.
Until 31 July 2009 takeaway-style premises with a Section 34
permit from their local authority are permitted to house Category D
gaming machines.
The Commission has recently launched a nationwide drive
targeting illegal suppliers of gaming machines. If you have any
doubt as to whether your gaming machine is legal or you have been
offered gambling machines for your premises that seem suspicious
please contact the Commission on (0121) 230 6666.
Notes to editors
The Gambling Commission
1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling
in the public interest. It does so by keeping crime out of
gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly,
and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed
or exploited by gambling. The Commission also provides independent
advice to government on gambling in Britain.
2. The Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating
all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and
spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National
Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA)
respectively.
3. Full details of licence requirements can be found on this
website.
4. This investigation concerns the supply of illegal gaming
machines and is part of a wider programme of compliance and
enforcement activity. The Commission is based in Birmingham and has
a nationwide team of over 50 compliance managers.
5. Information on the Commission's nationwide drive against the
illegal supply of gaming machines can be found on this website.
6. Category D Gaming Machines with a 10p stake are
currently entitled to offer prizes of up to £5 in cash, or up to £5
in cash and £3 in non-monetary prizes. Category D machines with a
30p stake can offer £8 in non-monetary prizes only.
Proposals have just been approved by parliament to increase the
maximum stake and the maximum prize value for non-money prize
machines to £1 and £50 respectively (to apply to ‘crane grabs'
only). For maximum stake of mixed cash prize/non-cash prize
machines to remain unchanged, but the prize value for ‘penny falls'
or ‘coin pushers' to increase to £15 (of which a maximum of £8
could be cash). No change to money prize machines
Further information
Further information is available from the Commission's
website.
Gambling Commission: John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852)
124624 or communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk