Skill with prizes (SWP) machines
Genuine skill with prizes machines (SWPs) can be sited without permissions. However, the Gambling Commission considers that the higher the payout offered by this type of machine, the less likely the machine will be viable as a genuine skill machine simply because of the risk that very skilful players will win the top prize too frequently to make the machine commercially viable.
Generally, if a machine being marketed as an SWP offers prizes over £50 the Commission may be doubtful whether it can be a genuine SWP. Licensing authorities are asked to inform the Commission of any SWP innovations which exceed this limit by contacting intelligencereports@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
In the past machines have been marketed as SWP machines offering games designed to look like recognised games of chance (such as roulette, bingo or poker). Such machines are gaming machines and cannot be sited as SWPs.
Our advice note Is a prize machine a gaming machine? provides further information to help determine whether a prize machine is a gaming machine.
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What to do if gaming machines appear to be illegally sited
Last updated: 6 August 2021
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