The Gambling Commission has announced new technical standards for land-based gaming machines, with the objective of enhancing fairness and safety in gambling.
The measures, revealed on Wednesday, arise from the Commission’s response to its 2025 consultation and apply to new category A, B, and selected C machines, set to be implemented in phases between March 2027 and October 2028.
**Mandatory Personal Limits**
Under the new regulations, machines will require players to set personal limits on their gaming sessions, including playtime and monetary losses. Players must either select these limits or adhere to default settings, with a prohibition on playing without limits. Consumer-defined limits can extend to a maximum of 60 minutes and £450 ($597) in net losses, whereas default limits will cap at 20 minutes and £150 net loss.
When players reach any of these limits, they will receive alerts that trigger mandatory breaks from gameplay. The break durations will vary, lasting 10 and 20 seconds for the first two breaks if default limits are set, and a minimum of 30 seconds for breaks resulting from custom limits. During these breaks, information regarding safer gambling must be presented, explaining the interruption and offering options to either end the session or adjust the set limits.
New machines will also feature default displays of players' net positions (winnings minus losses) and the elapsed session time, which can be hidden after 10 seconds of viewing.
**Real-Time Staff Alerts**
Gaming machines will be equipped with real-time alerts for staff when players hit or alter their time or loss limits. However, these notifications will not necessitate immediate interaction with customers. To minimize alert fatigue among staff, alerts will not activate upon reaching the first two default time thresholds if those were selected at the start of a session.
Additionally, machines must refrain from audiovisual celebrations for payouts that match or fall below the last stake, and features that expedite gameplay outcomes, such as turbo modes, will be banned.
These new standards will apply to newly released category A, B1, B2, B3, B3A, and B4 games classified as “new” after June 30, 2027, based on their final testing dates. Existing machines will largely be exempt due to the significant technical and financial challenges associated with retrofitting. Approximately 7,770 machines may face removal if upgrades are mandated.
For multi-game platforms, introducing a new game will require the entire system to comply with the updated regulations.
**Implementation Timeline**
The changes will roll out in three main stages. The initial session definitions will take effect on March 30, 2027. Most revised Gaming Machine Technical Standards (GMTS) will come into force on June 30, 2027, while the requirement for staff alerts will be legally mandated starting October 3, 2028.
**Cost Implications**
The Gambling Commission has shared its business impact assessment, estimating moderate costs of £12,000 for GMTS consolidation, with an additional £3,200 for testing strategies. Significant investments of between £500,000 and £1 million are anticipated for implementing functionality for limit-setting, alongside costs of £554,000 to £1.154 million for displaying session information in new games. The costs attributed to staff alerts could fall between £20.76 million and £41.63 million annually due to upgrades needed in data management systems and staffing.
Exemptions for existing machines and reduced alert triggers for lower-risk thresholds are expected to halve potential alert volumes. Minor costs may arise from design changes and adjustments to game features.
**Consumer Empowerment**
Helen Rhodes, Director of Major Policy Projects and Evaluation, stated that these measures aim to empower consumers in understanding and managing their gambling practices while ensuring operators meet their responsibilities.
The reforms originate from the UK Government’s 2023 Gambling Act Review, emphasizing commitments to safer gambling and transparency. The Commission received 1,065 responses during the consultation, including insights from industry stakeholders, clubs, and advocacy groups, leading to key modifications like the adoption of net position as a metric and clarification of session definitions.
In a recent announcement, Sarah Gardner, acting chief executive at the Bingo Association, noted that non-remote operators must remove gaming machines by July 29, 2026, should they fail to meet technical standards or lack the necessary operating license. This measure aims to streamline processes and swiftly eliminate non-compliant machines.
The Social Market Foundation has called for an increase in Machine Games Duty on higher-risk Category B electronic gaming machines in the upcoming budget. However, prominent UK companies such as Betfred and Entain oppose the rise, citing its potential negative impact on the economy and local streets.
