UK gambling regulator launches consultation on gaming machine standards

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has launched a 16-week consultation on proposed changes to gaming machine technical standards and testing requirements, aiming to strengthen consumer protections and make gambling safer in Britain.  

The consultation, which runs from January 29 to May 20, 2025, seeks input from industry stakeholders, consumers, and the public on measures designed to enhance player safety and regulatory clarity.  

The UKGC is considering the introduction of five new gaming machine standards, alongside a licensing condition and a social responsibility code. The proposed measures include:  

• Time and monetary limit-setting functionality to help players manage spending.  

• Safer gambling messaging integrated into machines.
  
• Display of net position and session times to improve transparency.  

The regulator is also looking to consolidate 12 existing technical standards into a single, clearer framework to align with remote gambling and software technical standards.  

UKGC Executive Director for Research and Policy Tim Miller underscored the importance of balancing consumer protection with industry feasibility.  

“We recognize that regulatory changes impacting the design of machines can come with considerable costs,” Miller said in a statement. “We encourage stakeholders to provide evidence that will help assess whether the benefits to consumers are proportionate to the costs involved.”  

The UKGC has invited input from gambling operators, test houses, and members of the public. The consultation forms part of the UK government's Gambling Act Review White Paper, which was published in April 2023 and seeks to modernize the country’s gambling regulations.

Previous reforms introduced under the white paper include limits on online slot stakes to promote responsible gambling. Additionally, a statutory levy has been implemented to fund gambling harm research, education, and treatment. There are also tighter affordability checks on high-spending online gamblers to ensure better financial safeguards and prevent excessive losses.

In January 2025, the UKGC banned turbo and slam-shot features that speed up gameplay and prohibited celebratory audio or visuals for returns equal to or below a player’s stake.  

While the UKGC continues its reform agenda, some lawmakers have expressed frustration over the slow pace of regulatory changes.  

Carolyn Harris, chair of the gambling-related harms All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), has previously criticized further consultations. “We don’t need more consultations. We need swift action and immediate implementation of the proposals,” she said in April 2024.

Despite political pressure for faster changes, the UKGC maintains that thorough consultation is necessary to ensure effective and proportionate regulations.