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Remote and machine regulation

Request date
15 July 2024

Outcome
Partial exemption

Document actions
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Request

We are writing this formal letter Regarding the Casino's (physical Venue and Online) Manipulation, Rigged Machines and Scamming.

REDACTED

We kindly request your cooperation in providing the following information:

Roulette Machine Investigation:

How do you verify if roulette automatic machines and live tables, including those connected to the machines, are rigged or not? What methods do you employ to determine if these machines are controlled by artificial intelligence and subject to manipulation?

Slot Machine Investigation:

How do you check if slot machines are breaching the percentage RTP (Return to Player) regulations? What methods do you use to ensure that these machines adhere to the percentage RTP rules and regulations?

Frequency of Inspections:

How often do you conduct inspections on these machines to ensure their integrity?

Remote Control of Machines:

It has come to our attention that all machines are remotely controlled on a daily basis by machine providers and operators. How do you monitor and control these remote operations to prevent rigging and manipulation?

REDACTED

Response

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested:

  1. How do you verify if roulette automatic machines and live tables, including those connected to the machines, are rigged or not?
  2. What methods do you employ to determine if these machines are controlled by artificial intelligence and subject to manipulation?
  3. How do you check if slot machines are breaching the percentage RTP (Return to Player) regulations?
  4. What methods do you use to ensure that these machines adhere to the percentage RTP rules and regulations?
  5. How often do you conduct inspections on these machines to ensure their integrity?
  6. It has come to our attention that all machines are remotely controlled on a daily basis by machine providers and operators. How do you monitor and control these remote operations to prevent rigging and manipulation?

A variety of information falling within the scope of your request is available on the Gambling Commission website. Section 21 of the FOIA provides that information is exempt where it is reasonably accessible elsewhere. Below we have provided links to webpages relevant to your request as well as some explanatory narrative.

The Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab) gives the Gambling Commission, as part of its statutory role, the power to attach conditions to operating licences about equipment used in connection with gambling activities (section 85). In addition, the Commission has the power to set technical standards for remote gambling systems (including software) (section 89).

To ensure fairness for consumers, some gambling products must be tested by an approved Test House before they are released to the market. The Gambling Commission issues a list of approved Test Houses and all operators who are manufacturing gaming machines, gaming machine software, and remote gambling software, must use an appropriately accredited Test House.

Test Houses are approved to test compliance against our requirements and the technical standards, including:

Gambling software and remote operating licence holders are required under licence condition 2.3.1 to comply with our remote technical standards (RTS) and requirements relating to the timing and procedures for testing. The RTS details the specific technical standards and the security requirements that licensed remote gambling operators and gambling software operators need to meet. We also set out the minimum requirements which should be checked within its Annex.

These checks are undertaken by independent third party approved test houses, who undertake a test of the relevant product against the RTS through the timings and procedures set out within the Testing Strategy.

Review of the decision

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email. 

Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission. 

It should be noted that if you wish to raise a complaint with the ICO about the Commission’s handling of your request for information, then you are required to do so within six weeks of receiving your final response or last substantive contact with us.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission

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