Consultation response
January 2025 - Gaming Machine Consultation: Part 1 Response
Our position in relation to the licence condition proposal included in the Gaming Machine Technical Standards, Gaming Machine Testing Strategy and LCCP consultation.
Executive summary
In January 2025, we published a consultation on proposed changes to our requirements on gambling businesses (opens in new tab), through the Gaming Machine Technical Standards (GMTS), Gaming Machine Testing Strategy (testing strategy) and the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).
This was in response to the government’s commitment in the April 2023 White Paper High Stakes: gambling reform for the digital age (opens in new tab) that set out that, "The Gambling Commission will conduct a review of its gaming machine technical standards. The review will include an assessment of the role of session limits across Category B and C machines and the role of safer gambling tools. This review will consider the effects of any legislative change following the Gambling Act Review and, where appropriate, will consolidate the progress made so far by the industry on a voluntary basis."
This commitment was consistent with our own recommendation as documented within our Advice to Government in April 2023.
The consultation set out a range of proposals to:
- consolidate the existing 12 Gaming Machine Technical Standards (GMTS) into a single standard, whilst amending the format to be more consistent with our Remote gambling and software technical standards for greater clarity
- update the GMTS and Gaming Machine Testing Strategy (testing strategy) to remove obsolete material (for example, in relation to initial transitional arrangements and implementation dates) and make amendments to the Category B2 gaming machine requirements to reflect the changes to maximum charges for use (reduced from £100 per game to £2 per game) in 2019
- introduce 5 new technical standards and 1 social responsibility code provision designed to support and empower consumers to use gaming machines safely at every stage of the customer journey
- introduce a licence condition, in line with the provision at section 86(2) of the Gambling Act 2005, that states licensees must not make specified gaming machines available for use in reliance on the licence if the Commission has notified the licensee in writing that the manufacture, supply, installation, adaption maintenance or repair of the machine:
- was not carried out in reliance on a gaming machine technical operating licence
- did not comply with standards established under or by virtue of section 96.
- amend 3 existing technical standards having considered industry proposals to improve consumer enjoyment and gameplay.
This response sets out our position in relation only to our proposal to introduce a licence condition, in line with the provision at section 86(2) of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act), which would allow the Gambling Commission to more effectively address instances whereby a gaming machine has been illegally manufactured, supplied, installed, adapted, maintained or repaired, or does not comply with the GMTS.
With regards to the remaining consultation proposals, we are continuing to analyse the large volume of responses to the consultation as well as the supplementary data, research and evidence reports which were submitted by the stakeholders. We are aiming to publish our response in the summer.
We asked
One of the proposed changes in the consultation was to introduce a licence condition which would require the removal of non-compliant gaming machines from licensee premises upon receipt of a notification from the Commission.
The condition would be applicable to all non-remote operating licences that can make gaming machines available for use.
We requested views from respondents on their level of agreement or disagreement with the proposal, on the wording of the proposed licence condition and on the proposed implementation date of 6 months.
You said
Stakeholders, including consumers, gambling businesses (such as those that manufacture, supply or make gaming machines available for use), test houses and members of the public, were invited to share their views on the proposals and provide a response to the proposed changes.
The consultation ran until 3 June 2025.
Responses from stakeholders show that:
- the majority supported the proposal to introduce a licence condition although some respondents sought further clarification on how the licence condition would be enforced
- the majority agreed with the wording of the proposed licence condition with some respondents requesting a definition for ‘specified gaming machine’, and guidance on what would constitute a ‘notification in writing’. One respondent also asked whether the licence condition could be extended to cover gaming machines and/or games
- the majority of respondents have a preferential option for a long implementation date. However, respondent comments on the implementation date were often general comments about implementation of the proposals overall, rather than specific to this proposal.
The organisations that consented to the publication of their name when responding to the consultation are listed in the Annex.
We did
We have reviewed the responses to this specific licence condition proposal in the consultation. Following consideration of the consultation feedback, we have decided to proceed with the introduction of a licence condition in line with the provision at section 86 of the Gambling Act 2005. The new licence condition will come into effect on 29 July 2026.
Previous sectionContents page Next section
Introduction - January 2025 - Gaming Machine Consultation: Part 1 Response
Last updated: 29 January 2026
Show updates to this content
No changes to show.