The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed a new compliance framework for land-based gaming machines, with most requirements taking effect from June 2027 and existing machines largely exempt from the costliest technical changes.
The regulator finalised the measures after reviewing 1,065 responses to a consultation launched in January 2025 covering the Gaming Machine Technical Standards (GMTS), Gaming Machine Testing Strategy and Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The review formed part of commitments made under the UK government’s 2023 Gambling Act Review.
The Commission said feedback from operators, consumers and other stakeholders led it to modify several proposals, particularly where implementation costs, privacy concerns and potential disruption to customers were considered disproportionate.
Existing machines removed from key requirements
One of the biggest changes from the original proposal is the decision to exempt existing gaming machines from new requirements covering limit-setting tools and the display of session information.
The Commission said upgrading machines already in operation could involve complex technical work and significant costs, particularly for smaller gambling businesses and social clubs, without necessarily delivering proportionate consumer benefits.
The requirements will instead apply principally to new Category B machines, including B1, B2, B3, B3A and B4 products. If an existing game compendium is updated with a new game, however, the wider platform will have to comply with the relevant standards.
From 30 June 2027, affected machines will need to provide players with gambling-management functionality and information showing how long they have been playing and their net financial position during the session.
The regulator has chosen net position rather than deposited amounts as the main monetary measurement after concluding that the concept is clearer for players.
Faster play features face restrictions
The updated standards also introduce changes to game design.
New Category A, B and C machines will not be allowed to celebrate a return that is equal to or below the amount staked. The rules are intended to prevent losses or stake-level returns from being presented in a way that resembles a genuine win.
Features allowing customers to shorten the time before a result becomes known will also be prohibited. This covers mechanics designed to accelerate play, including functions comparable to turbo spins, quick spins or slam-stop features.
The Commission said gaming machines represent a significant part of Britain’s gambling sector, generating more than one-fifth of reported industry gross gambling yield when lotteries are excluded.
Session limits and breaks redesigned
The definition of a gaming session will change from 30 March 2027 so that it reflects actual gameplay rather than activities such as deposits, navigating menus or other interactions with a machine.
That adjustment is intended to prevent breaks from being triggered before meaningful gambling activity has begun.
The Commission has also adopted a graduated system for mandatory breaks. Instead of the existing 30-second period applying immediately, the first default time threshold will trigger a 10-second break and the second a 20-second break. Longer breaks will continue to apply at subsequent thresholds.
Players will be able to choose to hide their elapsed playing time and net position after at least 10 seconds of a break, a concession introduced to address privacy concerns while retaining access to safer gambling information.
Staff alerts will meanwhile be focused on higher-risk stages of play rather than being activated at the first and second default time limits.
Three-stage rollout runs into 2028
Implementation will take place in three stages.
The revised definition of a gaming session becomes effective on 30 March 2027. Most remaining GMTS and LCCP changes will follow on 30 June 2027.
Requirements concerning staff alerts have been given a longer implementation period and will take effect on 3 October 2028 because of the technical work involved, including potential protocol changes, integration across different machine platforms and acceptance testing.
The Commission has urged manufacturers, operators and other businesses involved in gaming-machine compliance to begin preparing for the new standards ahead of the first 2027 deadline.