The UK Gambling Commission will phase in new technical standards for land-based gaming machines from 30 March 2027. Players on new machines must set time and loss limits or accept default settings. The package includes mandatory breaks, session information display and game-design restrictions, but exempts most machines already in operation.
At the start of a session, players must actively set personal limits or accept defaults. Play without limits is not permitted. Custom limits cannot exceed 60 minutes and £450 net loss; defaults are capped at 20 minutes and £150. When a limit is reached, the machine enforces a break: the first two breaks under default settings last 10 and 20 seconds, all subsequent breaks run at least 30 seconds. Safer gambling information appears during the pause.
New machines must display net position (wins minus losses) and session duration. Players may hide the data after viewing it for at least 10 seconds. Machines must send real-time alerts to staff when limits are reached or changed, though the alert does not require immediate intervention. To reduce staff load, alerts at the first two default thresholds — 20 and 40 minutes — are not required. Audio-visual celebrations on returns equal to or below the stake are banned, as are turbo modes and fast spins.
Phased rollout
The standards apply to new machines in categories A, B1, B2, B3, B3A, B4 and some category C, released after 30 June 2027. Existing machines are exempt due to technical and financial upgrade constraints. Adding a new game to a multi-game compendium means the entire platform must meet the new standards.
Mandatory staff alerts take effect only on 3 October 2028. The Commission received 1,065 responses during 2025 consultations and adjusted the proposals. The industry estimated mandatory upgrades would have affected around 7,770 machines. Annual costs for the alert system are estimated at £20.76–41.63 million, limit-setting functionality at £500,000–1 million. Gaming machines generated £2.6 billion GGY from April 2024 to March 2025, with category B accounting for 88.5%.
