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Guidance on changes to non-remote casino licences relating to future amended betting and gambling activities, and gaming machine entitlements.
Published: 12 June 2025
Last updated: 13 June 2025
This version was printed or saved on: 6 July 2025
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/non-remote-casino-sector-legislative-changes-guidance
Overview: ## Introduction and background
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its gambling White Paper (opens in new tab) in April 2023, which set out the previous government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector. A series of key proposals specifically relating to the land-based gambling sector were outlined in Chapter 6 of the White Paper, including measures to adjust outdated regulatory restrictions applying to the sector.
From 26 July to 4 October 2023, DCMS conducted a public consultation (opens in new tab) on these measures.
Based on the responses to the consultation, DCMS said it intended to implement changes that would allow casinos that were already operating when the Gambling Act 2005 came into force, to access a number of new entitlements if certain conditions were met. These include:
DCMS said it also intended to make 2 adjustments to requirements for Small 2005 Act casinos:
The new government reviewed the proposals in relation to modernising the rules for casinos and decided to implement the changes as outlined in the previous government’s consultation on this matter.
On 22 April 2025, the Minister of State for Gambling and Heritage signed a statutory instrument as part of the process to deliver these measures.
These Regulations make amendments to the Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Tables in Casinos) (Definitions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1970) (opens in new tab) (“the 2009 Regulations”) to alter what constitutes a “gaming table” in a casino for the purposes of section 172(3) to (5) of the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”).
This instrument will come into effect on 22 July 2025.
Subsections (3) to (5) of section 172 of the Act make provision as to the number of gaming machines which may be made available for use in a casino by the holders of a licence issued under the 2005 Act. As well as a fixed numerical maximum, the number of gaming machines must not exceed a specified multiple of the number of gaming tables used in that casino. (Regulation 3 of the 2009 Regulations addresses when a gaming table is to be treated as being used in a casino at a particular time.)
The effect of the amendments made by regulation 2 (of the 2025 regulations) is to make it clear that only gaming tables controlled or operated by casino staff can qualify as a gaming table for the purposes of calculating gaming machine allowances. This change is made to prevent gaming products counting as a gaming table for the purposes of the gaming machine multiple, if a game can be triggered and the outcome established without the direct involvement of casino staff; for example, where the player presses a switch or button, or pulls a plunger or lever to release a set of balls. These types of products do not provide any of the benefits of a casino gaming table in contributing to a balanced mix of products or affording opportunities for social interaction. Further detail on this can be found in the statutory instrument’s Explanatory Memorandum.
On 12 May 2025, a further draft statutory instrument was laid in the UK Parliament.
The Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab) (“the draft Casinos Regulations”).
If approved by Parliament, this instrument will make the following changes to casinos that were already operating when the Gambling Act 2005 came into force:
This instrument also makes 2 changes to Small 2005 Act casinos. Firstly, it amends the machine to table ratio from 2:1 to 5:1. Secondly, it reduces the minimum table gaming area requirement from 500m² to 250m².
If approved this instrument will come into effect on 22 July 2025.
The draft Casinos Regulations form part of a package of interlinked statutory instruments which amend the regulatory framework for land-based casinos.
Two further linked statutory instruments were published alongside the draft Casino Regulations to enable proper scrutiny of the whole package of changes. These are:
The Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2025 (opens in new tab) (PDF) which will implement the following changes:
Enable the holder of a converted casino premises licence who wants to utilise the new entitlements to apply to the relevant licensing authority to vary that licence so the casino plan can show the location and extent of any part of the premises which will be a table gaming area.
If the draft Casinos Regulations are approved by both Houses, Ministers will also make the 2 negative instruments. The 2 negative instruments are intended to come into force on 22 July, no later than 21 days after the date on which they are laid before Parliament. Once all 3 instruments are in force, operators will be able formally to start the process of accessing these new entitlements if they wish to do so. An operator can of course leave their current premises licence unamended.
Some parts of the regulatory framework for casinos are reserved while other aspects are devolved. Only 2 of the measures from this package will apply to Scotland. These are:
While the powers to make changes to gaming machine entitlements are generally reserved, the protective measures that the government views as necessary accompaniments to any such change are devolved. The government therefore will not proceed with any of these deregulatory changes in Scotland at present.
If the draft Casino Regulations are approved by both Houses of Parliament, the Gambling Commission will publish information on the overall intent of the statutory instruments, what the changes mean for operators of casino premises that intend to make use of the regulatory changes and how this process should be administered by licensing authorities when applications are received.
Converted casino licensees are advised that those wishing to utilise the new extended entitlements will need to inform the Commission under the Licence Conditions and Code of Practice (LCCP) Ordinary Code Provision 8.1.1 “Information requirements”. Licence holders should also consider whether, as a result of the changes and gambling facilities offered, an operating licence variation is required with regards to fee category and/or the licensed activities being offered (such as betting). For non-remote betting facilities, this would be a non-remote general betting standard operating licence. In order to offer Self-Service Betting Terminals (SSBTs), casinos would be required to apply for a remote general betting standard real events licence. It will not be possible for a licensee to rely on an ancillary remote betting licence, even where SSBTs are available alongside a non-remote offer as the ancillary licence is bound to a betting premises licence.
In addition, Small 2005 Act casinos which take advantage of the new machine to table ratio, and the reduced minimum table gaming area may also need to apply to their local licensing authority to vary their premises licence.
Further information on this will be published on the Commission’s website and communicated to operators and licensing authorities.