UK trade bodies reach cross-industry agreement for a Safer Game Design Code for gaming machines

Gaming industry trade bodies Bacta, the Bingo Association and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) finalized work last week on a Safer Game Design Code for gaming machines in the land-based sector. One of the changes that will derive from the adoption of this new code will be that machines will no longer celebrate wins of less than the stake with visual or auditory fanfares. 

The Code is a cross-sector initiative that started before the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to calls from the UK Gambling Commission for the industry to take further measures to address risks in gaming design features. 

A group of gaming machine manufacturers and operators met under the Chairmanship of Reflex’s Matt Ingram throughout the pandemic to evaluate common features found on gaming machines in light of current research, standards and the views of those with lived experience of gambling-related harm. 

BGC Executive Director Wes Himes

In an official statement, Bacta’s CEO, John White, said: “It is a significant achievement for the whole industry to reach an agreement on such a broad topic. Nevertheless, the challenge was one that had to be met and we now have a Code that again demonstrates the industry’s commitment to socially responsible recreational gaming. It adds to a long list of industry initiatives that have played their part in reducing problem gambling rates to the historically low level of 0.2% of the population." 

Miles Baron, CEO of the Bingo Association, added: “The Bingo Association is pleased to support this code in partnership with Bacta and the BGC demonstrating the ability of the land-based sector to come together when required to strengthen safer gambling protocols.”

BGC Executive Director Wes Himes also commented: “We welcome this Code as another example of the industry driving higher standards to address the issues of risk and we will continue to introduce further measures based on evidence in our fight to prevent harm.”