The Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective July 22, 2025, amend the Gambling Act 2005 and related regulations governing casinos in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Key changes include altering the calculation of permissible gaming machines per table, reducing the minimum size requirement of the casino's table gaming area, and introducing new mandatory conditions for converted casino premises licenses based on the size of their gaming and non-gaming spaces and the number of gaming machines.
The Secretary of State is also required to regularly review and report on these changes.
Arguments For
Increased flexibility for casinos: The changes allow casinos to better adapt to market demands and potentially increase revenue by adjusting the number of gaming machines and the size of gaming areas.
Improved regulatory clarity: The new regulations streamline the existing rules, making them easier for casinos to understand and comply with, reducing potential legal challenges.
Economic benefits: The adjustments could stimulate economic activity by attracting more customers and encouraging investment in the casino sector.
Enhanced player protection (potentially): By requiring appropriate size of non-gambling areas and other conditions, the regulations may contribute to creating a more balanced gambling enviornment for patrons.
Evidence-based approach (with caveats): The changes are predicated upon an assumption that the adjustments reflected in the regulations is in the best interest and will not negatively impact those who are vulnerable to gambling addiction.
Arguments Against
Potential for increased problem gambling: Relaxing certain conditions, such as the size of gaming areas, could potentially lead to increased gambling and a higher incidence of problem gambling.
Implementation challenges: Ensuring that casinos comply with the new regulations might be costly and require significant administrative oversight.
Unintended consequences: The regulations may have unexpected negative effects on casino operators or the broader gambling environment.
Focus on size without addressing other gambling issues: The regulations primarily focus on the physical size and conditions, thus possibly neglecting other important aspects of responsible gambling.
Lack of clear evidence of success related to the changes: Some may argue there's insufficient evidence that the changes will necessarily lead to the intended, positive outcomes.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 167, 172(11) and 355(1) of the Gambling Act 2005[1].
In accordance with section 355(4)(g) and (6) of that Act, a draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
The Secretary of State created these regulations under the authority granted by sections 167, 172(11), and 355(1) of the Gambling Act 2005.
A draft of the regulations was reviewed and approved by Parliament before becoming official.
These Regulations may be cited as the Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025, and come into force on 22nd July 2025.
These regulations are officially titled the Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025 and went into effect on July 22, 2025.
(1) Regulation 4 extends to England and Wales.
(2) Subject to paragraph (1), these Regulations extend to England and Wales and to Scotland.
Regulation 4 applies specifically to England and Wales.
The rest of the regulations apply to England, Wales, and Scotland.
(1) The Gambling Act 2005 is amended as follows.
(2) In section 172 (gaming machines), in subsection (5)(b)(i), for “twice” substitute “5 times”.
The Gambling Act 2005 is updated.
Specifically, section 172(5)(b)(i), which previously used "twice" as a multiplier, is changed to use "5 times" instead, concerning the number of gaming machines allowed.
(1) The Gambling Act 2005 (Mandatory and Default Conditions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007[2] are amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 2(1) of Part 4 of Schedule 1 (mandatory conditions attaching to small casino premises licences), for “500m²” substitute “250m²”.
(3) In Part 5 of Schedule 1 (mandatory conditions attaching to converted casino premises licences)— (a) before paragraph 1, insert— “A1. In this Part— “extended converted casino premises” means premises in which gaming machines are made available for use in accordance with the extended gaming machine entitlement; “extended gaming machine entitlement” means the entitlement conferred on the holder of a converted casino premises licence to make gaming machines available for use on the premises in accordance with paragraph 65(6)(za) of Schedule 4 to the Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2006[3]; “larger converted casino premises” means premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect, and which— (a) have a gambling area, the floor area of which is no less than 200m², and (b) are not also extended converted casino premises. B1. In this Part, in determining the floor area of the gambling area of premises, all areas in which facilities for gambling are provided on the premises must be taken into account. C1. In this Part, where premises are required to contain a non-gambling area— (a) the non-gambling area may consist of one or more areas within the premises, (b) lobby areas and toilet facilities may be taken into account in calculating the non-gambling area; but the non-gambling area must not consist exclusively of lobby areas and toilet facilities, (c) facilities for gambling must not be provided in the non-gambling area, and (d) at any time during which facilities for gambling are being provided on the premises, each separate area comprising the non-gambling area, other than the lobby areas and toilet facilities referred to in sub-paragraph (b), must contain recreational facilities that are available for use by customers on the premises.”; (b) in paragraph 1— (i) renumber the existing text as sub-paragraph (2), and (ii) before the renumbered sub-paragraph (2) insert—“(1) This paragraph applies to all premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect.”; (c) in paragraph 2— (i) for sub-paragraph (1), substitute—“(1) This paragraph applies to larger converted casino premises.”, and (ii) omit sub-paragraphs (2) and (4) to (7); (d) after paragraph 2, insert— “3. (1) This paragraph applies to extended converted casino premises. (2) The premises must contain a table gaming area, the floor area of which is no less than the lesser of— (a) half the size of the floor area of the gambling area, (b) 250m². (3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), in determining the floor area of the table gaming area, any number of separate areas within the premises may be taken into account. (4) Any separate area that comprises less than 12.5 per cent of the minimum required table gaming area is not to be taken into account in determining the table gaming area. (5) No gambling is permitted in the table gaming area of the premises other than gambling by way of table gaming. (6) The premises must contain a non-gambling area, the floor area of which is no less than the lesser of— (a) half the size of the floor area of the gambling area, (b) 250m². 4. (1) This paragraph applies to larger converted casino premises and extended converted casino premises. (2) The floor area of the gambling area must be less than 1,500m². (3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to premises in which the floor area of the gambling area of the casino was 1,500m² or greater on 12th May 2025 provided that, after that date— (a) the size of floor area of the gambling area is not increased, and (b) the converted casino premises licence is not varied under section 187 of the 2005 Act[4] so as to relate to premises to which it did not relate on that date. 5. (1) This paragraph applies to all premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect. (2) A notice must be displayed in a prominent place in each part of the premises used for providing facilities for betting, setting out the terms on which persons are invited to bet on the premises. (3) The maximum number of separate betting positions that may be made available for use at any time in relation to betting machines is determined in accordance with the table below. [Table showing maximum number of betting positions based on gambling area size]”.
The 2007 regulations are amended.
Specifically, the minimum size for the gaming area in small casinos is reduced from 500 square meters to 250 square meters.
Extensive changes are made to Part 5 of Schedule 1, adding definitions for 'extended converted casino premises', 'extended gaming machine entitlement', and 'larger converted casino premises'.
New regulations are added concerning minimum table gaming area, non-gambling areas, maximum gambling area floor size, and betting notices and machine limits for converted casino licenses.
These new rules are contingent on the size of the gambling area.
Certain exceptions to these size limitations are made based on the state of the casino's size as of May 12, 2025.
(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time— (a) carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in these Regulations, and (b) publish a report setting out the conclusions of each such review.
(2) The first report must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the date on which these Regulations come into force.
(3) Subsequent reports must be published thereafter at intervals not exceeding five years.
(4) A report published under this regulation must, in particular— (a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved, (c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate, and (d) if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous regulatory provision.
(5) In this regulation, “regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015[5] (see section 32 of that Act).
The Secretary of State is required to periodically review the regulations and publish reports on their effectiveness.
The objectives of the regulations will be assessed, and alternatives to achieve those objectives that involve less burdensome regulations will be evaluated.
An initial report is due within five years of the regulations coming into effect, with subsequent reports issued every five years.
The term 'regulatory provision' is defined as it is in the Small Business, Enterprise, and Employment Act 2015.
Twycross Parliamentary Under Secretary of State 25th June 2025 Department for Culture, Media and Sport
These regulations were signed by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Twycross, on June 25, 2025, from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.