Classes of Gaming Machines
The Gambling Act 2005 reclassified gaming machines and places restrictions on the type and number of machines that may be made available according to the type of premises in which they are made available for use. it also places a minimum age of 18 years on players of all but category D machines.
Generally gaming machines are classified according to the maximum stakes and maximum possible prizes:
|
Category of Machine
|
Maximum Stake
|
Maximum Prize
|
Age
|
|
A
|
Unlimited
|
Unlimited
|
18
|
|
B1
|
£5.00
|
£10,000.00
|
18
|
|
B2
|
£100
|
£500.00
|
18
|
|
B3
|
£2.00
|
£500.00
|
18
|
|
B3A
|
£2.00
|
£500.00
|
18
|
|
B4
|
£2.00
|
£400.00
|
18
|
|
C
|
£1.00
|
£100.00
|
18
|
|
D Money Prize
|
10p
|
£5.00
|
no age limit
|
|
D combined money and non-money prize (other than coin pusher or penny falls machines
|
30p
|
£8.00 non-monetary prize |
| D non-money prize (crane grab machine) |
£1.00 |
£50.00 |
| D combined money and non-money prize (coin pusher or penny falls machine) |
10p
|
£8 (of which no more than £5 may be a money prize) |
| D non-money prize (other than crane grab machine) |
20p |
£20.00 (of which no more than £10 may be a money prize) |
Category A Machines
Category A machines will only be available at a regional casino and will be the only gaming machines with unlimited stakes and prizes. A regional casino can make up to 1250 machines available irrespective of the number of gaming tables made available for use.
Category B Machines
Category B machines are divided into four sub-categories (B1, B2, B3, and B4) according to stake and prizes.
Category B1 machines may only be made available in casinos and have a maximum stake of £5.00 and a maximum prize of £10,000.
Category B2 includes gaming machines known as fixed odds betting terminals where the stake and prizes from an individual game can be rolled over into the next game up to a maximum stake of £100 per game (or £15.00 per chip) and a maximum prize of £500.00. These machines will only be available in casinos and licensed betting offices. The licensed betting offices are restricted to making four machines available for use.
Category B3 machines may only be made available in casinos, bingo premises, betting premises and tracks with pool betting, and adult gaming centres. Bingo premises and adult gaming centres are limited to making four machines available for use. Maximum stake is £2.00 with a maximum prize of £500.00.
Category B4 machines will be permitted to be available in casinos, bingo premises, adult gaming centres, members’ clubs, commercial clubs and miners welfare institutes. The maximum stake is £2.00 with a maximum prize of £400.
Category C Machines
Category C machines may be made available in all premises other than an unlicensed family entertainment centre (with a licensing authority permit) or travelling fair. The maximum stake is £1 with a maximum prize of £100.
Category D Machines
Category D machines may be made available in all of the locations where gaming machines of category A, B or C are available. In addition, they may be made available in unlicensed family entertainment centres and travelling fairs. The maximum stake and maximum prizes are dependant on the type of machine.
There is concern that these machines are attractive to young persons and as such they may not be made available in such places as taxi offices, fast food or late night refreshment outlets where the primary business operation is not gambling.
No person under the age of 18 years shall have access to any gaming machine other than those in category D.
Specific Offences include:
- Permitting persons under 18 to gamble.
- Permitting persons under 18 to enter parts of a family entertainment centre where category C machines are available for use.
- Permitting persons under 18 to enter areas where category C machines are situated.
Contact the Licensing Section
Telephone: 01304 872295
E-mail: licensing@dover.gov.uk