The Government is proposing some welcome relief for adult gaming centres (AGCs) and bingo clubs by consulting on increasing the maximum stake for Category B3 gaming machines and increasing the number of Category B3 gaming machines permitted on these types of premises.
You can download the consultation document here.
The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA) and the Bingo Association (BA) have reported to the Government that since 2007, 255 AGCs and 91 bingo clubs have closed. This has a knock on effect on gaming machine manfacturers too. It is argued that the regulatory burden placed on these sectors through the Gambling Act 2005, coupled with the economic downturn have combined to worsen trading conditions.
The industry would like to see an increase in the maximum stake for Category B3 machines from £1 to £2 and an increase in the number of Category B3 machines permitted in each AGC / bingo club to 20 per cent of the premises’ total number of machines.
The Government is consulting on these options, either separately or combined, and also its own alternative proposal to permit one Category B3 gaming machine per 170 square feet (16 square metres) in AGCs / bingo clubs.
The Government believes these proposals would allow operators to generate more revenue, prevent further closures and job losses and provide a boost to gaming machine manfacturers and suppliers, without undermining the public protection objectives enshrined in the Gambling Act.
A peripheral benefit may be that operators who have split their premises in order to gain more Category B3 machines, may consolidate their premises again to save on annual fees and on artificially separate areas in their premises.
The consultation period runs until 25 January 2011. More information can be found on the Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) website.
As you may recall from past changes to gaming machines stakes and numbers, the proposals, once agreed must be put before the European Union (EU) for approval, so these changes would be brought in during 2011.
What do you think? Do these proposals go far enough? Please leave your comment below.
If you have any queries relating to this article, please contact either Lisa Croft, Michael Parrott or Rob Westwood-Payne on 01242 285855 or email us.
[image credit: Adrian Boliston on Flickr Creative Commons]
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