Numerous machines or systems are left out (under section 235 of the Gambling Act 2005) from being described as gaming machines. Some of these are:
- Household or dual use computers
- Telephones or other machines for enabling communication
- Machines intended or revised to bet on forthcoming real events
- Lottery stations
- On a bingo grounds, machines intended or revised for the playing of bingo
- Machines intended or revised to play bingo, by means of prize gaming.
- Semi-automated or fully-automated casino games
What are gaming machine categories?
Gaming machines fall into categories contingent on the all-out stake and prize obtainable. These categories can be appreciated in the table underneath:
|
Machine category |
Maximum stake (from January 2014) |
Maximum prize (from January 2014) |
Allowed premises |
|
A |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Regional Casino |
|
B1 |
£5 |
£10,000 (with the option of a maximum £20,000 linked progressive jackpot on a premises basis only) |
Large Casino, Small Casino, Pre-2005 Act casino and Regional Casinos |
|
B2 |
£100 |
£500 |
Betting premises and tracks occupied by pool betting and all of the above |
|
B3 |
£2 |
£500 |
Bingo premises, Adult gaming centre and all of the above |
|
B3A |
£2 |
£500 |
Members’ club or Miners’ welfare institute only |
|
B4 |
£2 |
£400 |
Members' club or Miners’ welfare club, commercial club and all of the above. |
|
C |
£1 |
£100 |
Family entertainment centre (with Commission operating licence), Qualifying alcohol licensed premises (without additional gaming machine permit), and Qualifying alcohol licensed premises (with additional LA gaming machine permit) and all of the above. |
|
D money prize |
10p |
£5 |
Travelling fairs, unlicensed (permit) Family entertainment centre and all of the above |
|
D non-money prize (other than crane grab machine) |
30p |
£8 |
All of the above. |
|
D non-money prize (crane grab machine) |
£1 |
£50 |
All of the above. |
|
D combined money and non-money prize (other than coin pusher or penny falls machines) |
10p |
£8 (of which no more than £5 may be a money prize) |
All of the above. |
|
D combined money and non-money prize (coin pusher or penny falls machine) |
20p |
£20 (of which no more than £10 may be a money prize) |
All of the above. |
There is no legal minimum percentage layout for gaming machines but all machines are obligated to clearly show the amounts paid to use the machine that is repaid by way of prizes, or the chances of winning prizes from use of the mechanism.