Casino style machines are considered gaming machines

Businesses are being reminded that machines presented as offering games of chance such as roulette, bingo or poker are gaming machines and not Skill with Prize machines (SWPs) as again confirmed in the recent advice issued by the Commission and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

The Commission keeps a close eye on the boundary between gaming machines and SWPs and already has an investigation underway into suppliers of apparently non-compliant gaming machines.

The Commission is warning clubs, pubs and arcades that suppliers may offer them machines as SWPs which are in fact gaming machines. They should take particular care over machines with prizes above £50(4) as, if not quiz machines, they are more likely to be gaming machines.

The Commission’s National Compliance Manager for Gaming Machines, Stuart McPhee said: “Put simply, machines that look like casino or bingo games are gaming machines and therefore can only be made available for use with the appropriate license or permit.

“If you are making prize machines available in your pub, club or arcade and are uncertain of their legal status please check with your supplier or manufacturer that you are not breaking the law.”