Proposed changes include increased gaming machine entitlements and an adjustment to the machine-to-table games ratio.

UK.- The UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has published draft proposals for changes to casino regulations and entitlements. The proposals include technical statutory amendments aimed at modernising the provisions of the Gaming Act 1968 and Gambling Act 2005.

Separate from the 2023 Gambling White Paper, the proposed changes will be introduced via secondary legislation if adopted. They include increased gaming machine entitlements, an adjustment to the machine-to-table games ratio, the allowance of sports betting at casinos, an expansion of electronic table games and the removal of casino membership requirements.

The package also includes measures intended to simplify the licensing processes for casinos and to allow more opportunities for diversification in entertainment and hospitality.

Annexes B and C of the proposal contain updates to rules for converted casinos, which refers to those venues that were first licensed under the Gaming Act 1968 but then transitioned to the Gambling Act 2005. This includes changes to gaming machine entitlements and licensing requirements to align such venus with the proposed reforms.

As a revision to a transitional order of 2006, converted casinos in England and Wales would be allowed to operate up to 80 Category B, C, or D gaming machines provided that casino floors cover at least 280 square metres and that the number of gaming machines does not exceed five times the number of operational gaming tables. A tiered scaling system would link permitted machine numbers to floor area.

When more than one casino is located in the same or adjacent premises, there would be a cumulative cap, allowing no more than 80 machines across all venues. When a casino adopts the new entitlements, its previous licensing conditions on machine availability would no longer apply. The Secretary of State would provide a progress report within five years, with subsequent reviews every five years.

Meanwhile, Annex C details procedural updates for the implementation of the proposed changes. It states that casinos that want to adopt the new entitlements would need to submit modified venue plans, which would need to show designated table gaming areas and other areas used for gambling

The proposals are likely to be welcomed by the industry as land-based casinos have been calling for some of them for several years now and there has been growing frustration at repeat delays. However, there is still no proposed timeline for when the secondary legislation to implement them might be adopted. 

Speaking at the Bingo Association’s AGM earlier this month, the Gambling Commission’s executive director Tim Miller confirmed that a consultation of land-based gaming forms had been extended from May 20 until June 3 to allow stakeholders more time to provide feedback. He said the regulator was keen to “hear workable alternatives to our proposals”.