Great Britain confirmed a new mandatory package of gaming machine rules on September 30, 2026, that will change how machines display losses, winnings, session duration and player limits from 2027. The Gambling Commission has now concluded the consultation launched in January 2025 as part of the implementation of the government White Paper “High Stakes: gambling reform for the digital age”, stemming from the review of the Gambling Act 2005.
Great Britain orders non-compliant slots off floors from July 29
From June 30, 2027, new Category B gaming machines will have to provide gambling-management tools and show how long a customer has been playing and their “net position”, meaning how much they have won or lost during the session. They will also be required to include player limits and safer-gambling messages. The regulator excluded already-installed machines from some of these requirements after receiving more than 1,000 responses warning about the cost burden for smaller licensees and social clubs.
Ruth Evans
A new regulatory definition of a gaming machine session will take effect earlier, on March 30, 2027. When a limit is reached, mandatory pauses will vary in length according to the level of risk; after a minimum of 10 seconds, players will be able to actively hide information on elapsed time and net position. The Commission also removed staff alerts at the first two predefined time thresholds.
Lisa Nandy
The package also changes game design. New machines and games will not be allowed to celebrate prizes worth less than the amount staked as if they were genuine wins, nor include player-controlled features that artificially shorten the time before a gambling outcome is revealed. Full staff-alert requirements will take effect on October 3, 2028, reflecting the need for protocol upgrades, cross-platform integration and acceptance testing.
Gaming machines generate more than one-fifth of Britain’s Gross Gambling Yield, excluding lotteries, and operate across casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, clubs and seaside arcades.
The announcement coincides with a leadership change, because Ruth Evans began a five-year term as Chair of the Gambling Commission on September 30, following her appointment by Secretary of State Lisa Nandy. Sarah Gardner is serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer. The technical update was presented by Graham Burgin, Policy Senior Manager.
