B3 gaming machines
Gaming machines may contain games of more than one category. For example, a B3 gaming machine may also offer category C and category D games.
AGC and bingo premises licences granted before 13 July 2011 are entitled to make available four (for AGC) or eight (for bingo) category B3/B4 gaming machines, or 20% of the total number of gaming machines, whichever is the greater.
B3 gaming machines requirements
- Maximum stake:
- £2
- Maximum prize:
- £500
- Permitted locations:
-
- 2005 Act and 1968 Act casinos
- betting shops
- tracks with pool betting
- bingo premises
- adult gaming centre.
- Maximum number of machines - bingo premises and adult gaming centre:
-
Up to a maximum of 20% of the total number of machines available for use on the premises
- Maximum number of machines - betting shops and tracks with pool betting:
-
Up to a maximum of 4
Any combination of categories B to D
- Maximum number of machines - 2005 Act large casino:
-
Up to a maximum of 150
Any combination of categories B to D - subject to a machine to table ratio 5:1
- Maximum number of machines - 2005 Act small casino:
-
Up to a maximum of 80
Any combination of categories B to D - subject to a machine to table ratio 2:1
- Maximum number of machines - 1968 Act casino:
-
Up to a maximum of 20
Any combination of categories B to D - or any number of C or D machines instead
Licences and permits required
B3 machines can only be made available in casino, betting shops, tracks with pool betting, bingo halls or adult gaming centres.
You must have one of the following types of licence to make them available:
- non-remote 2005 Act casino operating licence
- non-remote 1968 Act casino operating licence
- non-remote general betting standard operating licence
- non-remote pool betting operating licence
- non-remote bingo operating licence
- Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) licence.
If you are a machine manufacturer or supplier you will need a gaming machine technical licence, which type will depend on the nature of your business.
Gaming machine technical standards
See our gaming machine technical standards (categories B3 and B4) for the full details of the technical standards which this category of machine must comply with.
All gaming machines sited on casino, betting or AGC premises must comply with our gaming machine technical standards.
Test houses
Category B1, B2, and B3 gaming machines must be tested by an independent test house to ensure they comply with the technical standards in full. Test houses are also sometimes referred to as test labs.
For categories A, B1, B2, B3, B3A, B4, C, D, server networked and downloadable, cashless payment, linked progressives and wireless networks refer to the gaming machine testing strategy.
Return to player (RTP)
B3 machines must display the 'theoretical target percentage return to player'. RTP is an average measured over a large number of games and will vary over a typical session due to normal game volatility.
The manufacturer will decide on the game RTP.
There is no minimum RTP requirement. However, the minimum average return must be displayed to the player for the game.
The value displayed must be verified either by the manufacturer or accredited test lab for categories B1, B2, B3 and B3A.
Files
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Last updated: 11 December 2023
Show updates to this content
Following an audit corrected link formatting issues only. Test house link updated