Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Gaming machine definition

What does Gaming machine mean? In practice, a gaming machine is a device that enables an individual to stake money (or money’s worth) on a game of chance for the chance to win a prize—covering slot/fruit machines, fixed‑odds betting terminals and similar terminals—even if the device also has other functions. The term is defined in legislation. In Great Britain, the Gambling Act 2005 (section 235) defines a gaming machine broadly as a machine designed or adapted for use by individuals to gamble, whether or not it can also be used for other purposes, with detailed categories (A–D) governing stakes, prizes and permitted locations (casinos, betting...

Gambling Act 2005 (Great Britain): Gaming Machine Definitions, Categories and Authorisations; Lottery Promotion, Exemptions and Offences

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note

This Practice Note examines what falls within the meaning of a gaming machine under the Gambling Act 2005 (GA 2005) and the offences that may arise where contraventions occur. It further addresses the operation of lotteries, including the distinction between simple and complex lotteries, the rules on lottery promotion, exempt lotteries, and offences resulting from breaches of the statutory provisions. Under GA 2005, a gaming machine is a device designed or adapted for individuals to gamble, whether or not it also serves other purposes. The High Court has held that poker terminals available in public houses are gaming machines because they enable play of a game of chance for a prize; they were recognisably capable of generating a chance on which a prize might be awarded. By contrast, equipment not designed or adapted for gambling—such as skill machines where the outcome depends on skill rather than chance—does not constitute a gaming machine for GA 2005 and is therefore outside its regulation. Accordingly, devices based on skill alone are excluded from GA 2005 and remain entirely unregulated by that framework altogether. GA 2025 states that:

a domestic or dual‑use computer is not a gaming machine solely by reason of...

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David Lucas , FBII, MIoL

Lucas Licensing Limited

David is a specialist in gambling, alcohol and entertainment licensing and has recently become a consultant. He has previously represented operators of alcohol, entertainment and gambling premises in Great Britain. He has also advised responsible authorities and licensing authorities, including acting as legal advisor to licensing committees. David provides training to operators, licensing authorities and responsible authorities on all aspects of licensing and gambling including specialist areas such as compliance, conditions, hearings and appeals.He is a consulting editor to “Paterson’s Licensing Acts” (Butterworths) and has provided contributions on the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005. David is also the author of Licensing and Gambling Practice Notes published by LexisNexis.David is a member of the Board of the Institute of Licensing and Chairman of the East Midlands Region. He is also a member of the national Board of Best Bar None and the...

Nick Arron

Poppleston Allen

Nick is the lead Partner in the Betting & Gaming team, having responsibility for Operating, Personal and Premises Licences under the Gambling Act 2005.Nick acts for a wide variety of leisure operators from large international corporations to single-site operators, including casinos, bookmakers, bingo operators, family entertainment centres, adult gaming centre arcades, clubs and gaming machine and software manufacturers and suppliers. His clients are from both the terrestrial land-based sector and online gambling world.Some of Nick’s major leisure clients include; MERKUR.com AG, Blueprint Gaming Ltd, Blueprint Operations Ltd, Regal Amusement Machine Sale Ltd, MERKUR Slots, Palatial Leisure Ltd, Bede Gaming, Haven Leisure Limited, Namco, Bandai Amusements Europe Ltd, Paddy Power, Parkdean Resorts Uk Ltd, and Tenpin.He successfully acted for Nikolas Shaw Ltd in the first appeal relating to the new casinos under the Gambling Act 2005.He is retained as a legal advisor by the Bingo...

Web page updated on 26/05/2026

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