Gambling Act 2005 Help and guidance
Help and guidance
Fruit machines
Under the Gambling Act 2005 fruit machines have been phased out of take away food shops and other non-arcade premises such as:
- cafés and restaurants
- minicab and taxi offices
- guesthouses
- other non-arcade and unlicensed premises
This is to ensure that children and other vulnerable people are not exposed to gambling in certain non-gambling premises. Though this does not include pubs, clubs and other alcohol licensed premises or amusement arcades.
Under the Gambling Act 2005 the premises listed above were not allowed to renew their expired fruit machine permits or apply for a new permit. These businesses are no longer able to operate gaming machines.
It is illegal to offer fruit machines in the premises listed above.
Please note that this does not apply to pubs, clubs and other alcohol licensed premises or amusement arcades.
Gaming in licensed premises
The Gambling Act 2005 will affect the games operated in existing premises which are licensed under the Licensing Act 2003.