Slots Galore - Levelling the Casino Playing Field
The gaming industry in the UK has long been a dynamic and evolving sector. Casinos, in particular, have had to adapt to changes in technology, consumer preferences, and regulatory frameworks. One of the most significant areas of development has been gaming machines, which have undergone substantial transformations over the years. These changes are a reflection of both progress in technology and the need to ensure putting consumer protection first.
Last month, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”), the UK government branch that oversees all things gambling, finally gave the casino industry a much-welcomed boost by levelling the playing field between those casinos that have been around since the 1960’s with those newer 2005 licences – remember all the talk of a ‘super casino’ under the Blair government?!
All casinos, well depending on floor size and number of gaming tables, will be able to increase their gambling machines entitlement from 20 up to a possible maximum of 80 machines from 22 July 2025. Other changes are coming too – but the increase in machines has been lobbied for close to 20 years. Anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting London’s fabulous Hippodrome Casino on a Saturday night will know that 20 machines have never been enough to satisfy customer demand. Negative behaviours such as customers not taking regular breaks from playing due to the fear of not being able to get back on the machine they were playing should, all being well, be a thing of the past.
Casinos will invest heavily in response to these changes, Rank Group – the UK’s largest casino operator, have publicly said so. Equipment obviously, but also in staffing too. More highly trained safer gambling specialists will monitor the machine zones, offering support to those showing potential indicators of harm – positive for consumers, positive for operators, and positive for the tax man!
What’s next? Cashless play? Nationally linked progressive jackpots? Virtual reality machines? We’ll be watching and ready to support the industry like we have always done.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how this impacts your business or licences, reach out to our team today.
Written by Nigel Harvey