UK Slot Machine Rules: Pause on High Streets, Expansion for Casinos
Casinos in Britain are preparing for a wider offering on their floors after July’s decision to raise the cap on high-stakes slot machines. The reform allows larger venues to quadruple their number of B1 terminals, a move that marks a new stage in the government’s gradual reworking of gambling regulation. The change also underlines how casinos are advancing while high-street arcades remain stuck in regulatory limbo.
That divide opened in April when ministers put the brakes on planned changes for adult gaming centres. The pause was framed as a response to concerns about oversight and the social effects of new slot venues, leaving arcades waiting for clarity on their future. At the same time, online operators reminded players that gambling is easier from home, where players are even free to do so anonymously with full access to bonuses, fast crypto payouts, and popular titles without ID checks. This contrast between cautious treatment of arcades and the freedom available online kept the debate alive ahead of the summer’s update for casinos.
Momentum returned in July with the announcement that casinos could increase their entitlement to B1 machines. The Gambling Commission confirmed the legislative changes in July, allowing larger casinos to increase their entitlement to B1 machines from 20 to 80 under specified licensing conditions. Smaller casinos remain capped at 20, while converted casinos under older legislation are permitted higher numbers than before, but still below the threshold for large premises.
Officials explained that the reform was designed to align machine numbers with floor space and table provision, replacing rules that dated back to the 2005 Gambling Act. For operators, the change provides scope to modernise venues, attract a wider audience, and compete with the breadth of digital play, where unlimited slot libraries are already available.
Industry voices have welcomed the expansion as overdue. Executives argue that casinos, as strictly controlled and age-restricted environments, are well-positioned to handle higher machine volumes responsibly. Supporters point to benefits beyond the tables themselves: greater capacity encourages investment in facilities, creates roles for staff, and enhances the tourism offering of cities where casinos form part of the leisure mix. The reform is presented as recognition of the sector’s stability and its role in the broader economy.
While casinos gained ground, adult gaming centres remain caught in the freeze. Councils have warned that high-street slot machines are generating record takings, with adult gaming centres lifting revenues by 11% to £623m in the year to March 2024, strengthening demands for greater powers to curb new openings. Figures show the number of machines on Britain’s high streets has risen to 74,523, the highest since records began in 2008. Of these, 14,155 B3 machines, offering a £2 spin and jackpots up to £500, now take in more than £32,700 annually, almost equal to the UK’s average salary. Local leaders argue that such growth demonstrates why the “aim to permit” rule, a clause in the 2005 Gambling Act that forces councils to lean toward approvals, leaves them unable to prevent clustering in deprived areas.
The debate plays out against a wider programme of reform. Online stake limits came into force earlier this year, setting £5 per spin for most players and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. A statutory levy now applies to operators, ensuring a dedicated stream of funding for education, research, and treatment. Other measures, including financial risk checks and improved customer tools, are being phased in to provide consistency across digital gambling. Together, these changes illustrate how regulation is advancing unevenly, with different segments of the market subject to different speeds of adjustment.
What comes next depends on how the government responds to pressure from councils and the arcade industry. A white paper on devolution includes proposals to allow councils more authority over licensing, though campaigners fear the measure could be cut before the final legislation. At the same time, operators such as Rank and Genting are already signalling plans to expand machine floors and refurbish venues to capitalise on the new allowances. Casinos will move quickly to benefit from expanded entitlements, investing in refurbishments and promotions to draw visitors. The government’s task will be to sustain a balance between encouraging growth in the sector and preserving public trust in the way gambling is managed.
