New UK regulations have redefined “gaming table” to include only staff-operated tables, impacting casino machine allowances.
Under the current regulations, casinos in the UK must have a balance between staff-operated gaming tables and automated machines. Recently, casinos have placed machines where players have to push a button or pull a lever to start the game, and do not classify these as automated machines.
The amendment to the regulations aims to “ensure that these products do not count as a gaming table” because they do not “provide any of the benefits of a casino gaming table in contributing to a balanced mix or affording opportunities for social interaction.”
“As such, the purpose of these Regulations is to make clear that only if a table is controlled or operated by casino staff can it qualify as a gaming table for the purposes of calculating gaming machine allowances.”
Gaming tables are deemed to be “more social in nature, as opposed to gaming machines and other automated gaming equipment, where there is less potential for human interaction and which tend to be more repetitive in nature.”
Effect of increased regulations
While the regulations aim to make gambling a more social activity, they could also have the effect of driving more players to UK online casinos. Last year, online casinos in the country generated an estimated £4.4 billion, while land-based casinos generated around £865 million, according to the Gambling Commission.
Online slots were the most lucrative segment within the online casino sector, generating approximately 82% of the revenue at £3.6 billion. In September last year, a £5 stake limit was introduced by the UK Gambling Commission to curb the amount players are losing on slots.
Fixed odds betting terminals that offer casino-style games in bookmaker shops have also been the subject of restrictions. Opponents claim that the fast-paced nature and lack of any social interaction lead to increased problem gambling. After the machines became widespread in betting shops in the early 2000s, the UK Gambling Act limited the number of machines to 4 per shop
Additionally, the maximum stake on the machines was cut from £100 to £2 for many games in 2018, which came into effect in 2019.
The increased restrictions in the UK come at the same time as the US has been opening up its online gaming industry. A report published this week suggests the American gambling market will outperform the UK and Europe by next year.
The UK Gambling Commission has also introduced stricter rules around betting advertising, including limiting the use of certain terms such as “risk-free bet”. European countries have also introduced stake limits and advertising restrictions, which has seen America, Canada and more recently Brazil catch up with their gambling industries.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling.
