UKGC strengthens gaming machine regulations

The UK Gambling Commission will introduce new regulations for Category B slot machines, with an emphasis on greater clarity on session details and wider availability of responsible gaming features. UKGC announced these updates to better safeguard players by providing clearer information about their gambling activities and improved management tools. The new requirements require machines to display session details, such as the duration of gambling sessions and the amount won or lost. Licensees will also be empowered to utilize this information to identify and engage with customers who may be at risk of gambling harm. New Rules to Be Phased In From 2027 The regulations will also modify game design rules. Prizes worth less than the original stake will no longer be allowed to be celebrated, and features that accelerate result delivery will be banned. The implementation will happen in phases: the new definition of a gaming machine session will start in March 2027, with most other updates coming in June 2027. Staff alert measures will be introduced later, on October 3, 2028. Existing machines will be exempt from these changes due to the technical and financial difficulties involved in retrofitting them. Helen Rhodes, director of major policy projects at the regulator, commented: We are confident that the consultation has led to a package of changes where the benefits to consumers are proportionate to the costs of implementation and that the staged timeline for implementation is reasonable and achievable. The new rules come as the UK gambling industry awaits a decision on whether Machine Games Duty for Category B machines will increase from 20% to 40%.