The Gambling Commission has announced a new 16-week consultation phase aimed at improving the safety and fairness of gaming machines across Britain. Running from 29 January to 20 May 2025, this consultation represents the third phase of implementing recommendations from the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper. The initiative focuses on refining technical standards and testing protocols, ensuring that gambling remains a safer and more transparent activity for consumers.

Gambling Commission Launches Consultation to Strengthen Gaming Machine Safety and Fairness in Britain

Key Objectives of the Consultation

The consultation introduces five new technical standards, a licence condition, and a social responsibility code provision. The primary goals include:

• Enhancing player protections through mandatory time and monetary limit-setting functionality.
• Improving transparency via enhanced safer gambling messaging and information displays.
• Consolidating existing regulations by merging twelve separate gaming machine technical standards into a single, comprehensive standard.
• Aligning land-based gaming regulations more closely with remote gambling technical standards.
• Addressing industry concerns by amending three existing technical standards to improve the overall player experience.

New Technical Standards and Their Implications

The five new technical standards proposed by the Gambling Commission are designed to ensure greater consistency, accountability, and consumer protection. These standards focus on:

1. Mandatory Limit-Setting for Players

To reduce problem gambling risks, gaming machines will be required to provide time and spending limits. Players must set predefined limits before initiating play, preventing excessive gambling.

2. Real-Time Safer Gambling Messaging

Gaming machines must include prominent and interactive safer gambling messages, delivering real-time updates on spending, session duration, and potential risk behaviors.

3. Machine Transparency and Display Enhancements

The new regulations mandate clearer paytable information, RTP (Return to Player) disclosure, and game rules. These changes ensure that players make informed decisions before engaging with a machine.

4. Enhanced Data Reporting for Operators

Operators will be required to collect and report detailed usage data to the Gambling Commission. This will aid in monitoring gambling trends, identifying problematic patterns, and developing evidence-based regulatory interventions.

5. Uniform Standardization of Machine Technical Specifications

To simplify compliance, the twelve existing gaming machine technical standards will be consolidated into a single, uniform standard, making it easier for both regulators and operators to maintain compliance.

Aligning Land-Based and Online Gambling Regulations

The Gambling Commission aims to bridge the regulatory gap between land-based gaming machines and online gambling platforms. By harmonizing technical and safety measures, the new standards will ensure consistency across all gambling environments. Key aspects of this alignment include:

• Implementing uniform responsible gambling measures for both physical and digital machines.
• Ensuring that all gaming machines meet rigorous safety and fairness benchmarks.
• Improving player protection tools, mirroring those already in place within remote gambling platforms.

Industry Implications and Stakeholder Involvement

Potential Costs for Gambling Operators

Regulatory changes affecting machine design and technical specifications can lead to significant costs for operators. Upgrading hardware, updating software, and modifying existing machines require substantial investment.

Call for Evidence from Stakeholders

The Gambling Commission encourages feedback from:

• Consumers – Providing insights on user experience and the effectiveness of safer gambling tools.
• Gambling Operators – Assessing cost implications and technical feasibility of the proposed changes.
• Industry Experts and Advocacy Groups – Offering evidence-based recommendations to enhance consumer protection.

Tim Miller’s Statement on the Consultation

Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, emphasized the importance of stakeholder participation, stating:

“The White Paper sets out that a top priority is ensuring that gambling happens safely. We share this commitment, and today’s consultation proposes how we could implement gaming machine changes in the land-based sector.

“We recognize that regulatory changes that impact the design of machines can come with considerable costs. We are encouraging consumers, gambling businesses, and other interested groups to share evidence that will assist us in measuring both the likely regulatory impacts of the proposed changes and the likely costs of implementing them.

“This evidence will be invaluable in helping make a robust assessment of whether the benefits to consumers are proportionate to the costs involved.”

The Road Ahead: What Comes Next?

Following the completion of the consultation period on 20 May 2025, the Gambling Commission will:

1. Review all submitted evidence and assess the potential impact of proposed changes.
2. Publish a final set of technical standards informed by stakeholder feedback.
3. Implement revised gaming machine regulations, ensuring adequate time for industry adaptation.
4. Monitor compliance and evaluate the effectiveness of the new standards in improving player protection and regulatory transparency.

Final Thoughts

The Gambling Commission’s consultation on gaming machine safety and fairness marks a crucial step toward creating a more responsible and transparent gambling environment in Britain. By standardizing regulations, enhancing player protection, and improving information transparency, these proposals aim to balance consumer safety with industry feasibility.

FAQs About Gambling Commission’s Consultation on Gaming Machine Safety and Fairness

1. What is the purpose of the Gambling Commission’s new consultation?

The Gambling Commission has launched a 16-week consultation phase to enhance the safety and fairness of gaming machines across Britain. The initiative, running from 29 January to 20 May 2025, focuses on refining technical standards, implementing responsible gambling measures, and improving transparency to protect consumers.

2. How does this consultation relate to the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper?

This consultation represents the third phase of implementing recommendations from the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper. It aims to modernize gaming machine regulations, align them more closely with remote gambling standards, and ensure better consumer protection and industry compliance.

3. What are the key objectives of the consultation?

The primary objectives include:

• Enhancing player protections by introducing mandatory time and spending limit-setting functionality.
• Improving transparency through enhanced safer gambling messaging and clear machine information displays.
• Consolidating existing regulations by merging twelve separate gaming machine technical standards into a single comprehensive standard.
• Aligning land-based gaming regulations with online gambling standards for greater consistency.
• Addressing industry concerns by amending three existing standards to improve the player experience.

4. What new technical standards are being introduced?

The consultation proposes five new technical standards to improve player safety and ensure regulatory consistency:

1. Mandatory Limit-Setting for Players – Players must set time and monetary limits before playing to prevent excessive gambling.
2. Real-Time Safer Gambling Messaging – Machines will provide interactive notifications about spending, session duration, and potential risks.
3. Machine Transparency and Display Enhancements – Operators must clearly display paytable information, RTP (Return to Player) percentages, and game rules.
4. Enhanced Data Reporting for Operators – Operators must collect and report detailed machine usage data to identify gambling trends and potential risks.
5. Uniform Standardization of Machine Technical Specifications – A single standard will replace twelve separate gaming machine regulations for easier compliance.

5. How will these changes impact players?

Players will benefit from increased protection and transparency, including:

• The ability to set time and monetary limits before starting a session.
• Clearer information on payouts, game rules, and risks before engaging with a machine.
• Real-time updates and responsible gambling alerts to promote safer gambling behavior.

6. Why is the Gambling Commission aligning land-based and online gambling regulations?

The Gambling Commission aims to bridge the gap between land-based gaming machines and online gambling platforms by implementing uniform responsible gambling measures. This will ensure that all gaming environments adhere to the same safety and fairness standards, making regulations consistent and transparent across the industry.

7. What are the potential costs for gambling operators?

Operators may face significant costs due to:

• Hardware and software upgrades to meet new technical standards.
• Modifications to existing gaming machines to incorporate responsible gambling features.
• Increased reporting requirements, requiring additional resources for data collection and compliance.

8. Who can participate in the consultation?

The Gambling Commission encourages feedback from:

• Consumers – Sharing experiences and opinions on safer gambling measures.
• Gambling Operators – Evaluating the costs and feasibility of proposed changes.
• Industry Experts and Advocacy Groups – Providing evidence-based recommendations to improve consumer protection.

9. What has Tim Miller, the Gambling Commission’s Executive Director, said about this consultation?

Tim Miller emphasized that the consultation’s goal is to ensure gambling remains safe while balancing consumer protection and industry feasibility. He urged stakeholders to contribute evidence, highlighting the importance of assessing regulatory costs and benefits before implementing changes.

10. How will these changes impact the gambling industry in Britain?

The proposed changes will lead to:

• Stronger consumer protection with mandatory limit-setting and safer gambling messaging.
• Increased regulatory compliance with a single set of technical standards.
• Higher operational costs for gambling operators due to required updates and compliance measures.
• Greater transparency for players, ensuring they make informed gambling decisions.