Co-ordinated action leads to machine seizures

Press release

Date: 25 May 2011

The Gambling Commission (the Commission) has seized gaming machine equipment and other assets following a co-ordinated national operation that forms part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal manufacture and supply of gaming machines under the Gambling Act 2005.

More than thirty Commission enforcement officers, supported by four local police forces, took part in the co-ordinated programme of site visits on Tuesday 24 May. Commission officers executed search warrants at three residential addresses and also visited 14 business premises including a number of alcohol licensed premises. Twenty suspected illegally supplied gaming machines and other evidence were seized. The seizures include a number of Skill Stop Roulette machines*.  

Anyone with any further information regarding the illegal manufacture and supply of gaming machines is asked to contact the Commission’s confidential intelligence line on 0121 230 6655.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest alongside its co-regulators local licensing authorities. 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. 2. The Commission and local licensing authorities are 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. 3. See the Terms & Conditions section of our website for information on legal advice.  
  4. 4. While the Commission concentrates on issues of regional and national concern, licensing authorities manage issues at a local level – on this occasion they are being kept informed of developments. 
  5. 5. The investigation is taking place under sections 240, 242, 243 of the Gambling Act 2005.
  6. 6. * The Commission issued warnings about gaming machines presented as games of chance last September and in November 2010 said that it suspects Skill Stop Roulette machines to be gaming machines on the basis of their presentation alone. Manufacturers and suppliers of gaming machines are required to be licensed by the Commission under the Gambling Act 2005. Businesses making gaming machines available for use by the public must also have the appropriate licence or permission. The previous warning was publicised in our press releases on 28 September 2010 and 4 November 2010.

Further information

  1. You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.