Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts (): I am repeating the following Written Ministerial
Statement made today in the other place by my Noble Friend, the
Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling and DCMS Lords
Minister, :
The family entertainment sector makes an important contribution
to local communities, particularly in seaside towns, and bingo
venues are a traditional cornerstone of the leisure sector
enjoyed across the country. However, commercial pressures mean we
have seen a number of closures of licensed family entertainment
centres and bingo clubs in recent years. The government is keen
to explore ways to support both sectors, preserving the heritage
of family-run amusement piers and bingo halls while supporting
innovative and vibrant new offerings, and to ensure that the
regulatory regime that applies to them is fit for purpose. Doing
so will help to support our wider growth mission, and help to
ensure a sustainable and socially-responsible land-based gambling
sector.
I therefore wish to inform the House that we have today published
a consultation on Category D gaming machines and licensing for
bingo venues.
Stake and prize limits for Category D gaming machines
Family Entertainment Centres predominantly site Category D gaming
machines. These are low-stakes machines, categorised by the
Gambling Commission as suitable for under-18s to play, and
include seaside staples such as crane grabs and penny pushers.
Stakes and prizes for Category D machines have not changed since
2014, whilst inflation has limited the ability of operators to
offer appealing prizes. As this category encompasses a wide
variety of machines, we are seeking views on maintaining or
increasing current stake and prize limits, in order to support
commercial sustainability and operator investment in venues
housing Category D machines. In line with this, we are also
seeking feedback on proposals to adjust the sub-categories for
certain Category D machines, to reflect new game mechanics and
distinguish machines that more closely resemble adult gambling
activities from lower-risk games. This will ensure that any
changes to stakes and prizes to support growth in the sector are
underpinned by an appropriate and proportionate framework.
Age limit for ‘cash-out' slot-style Category D machines
The Government is also consulting on an age limit for certain
Category D gaming machines. The Gambling Act Review concluded
that machines which mirror adult slot machines and pay out in
cash – also known as “cash-out” slot-style Category D machines –
should not be available to children. Therefore, we are proposing
to make it a criminal offence to invite, cause or permit anyone
under the age of 18 to play these particular types of machines.
This builds on the existing voluntary commitment implemented in
2021 by Bacta, the amusement and gaming machine industry trade
body, banning under-18s from playing this type of machine in
their members' venues, by introducing the same protections across
the whole sector.
Licensing for bingo venues
Recent years have seen change and innovation in the bingo sector:
this includes new concepts combining bingo with nightlife,
electronic terminals allowing customers to play on a tablet, and
smaller premises emerging alongside traditional bingo clubs.
While we are keen to support innovation and the continued
popularity of bingo, there are a growing number of licensed bingo
premises which predominantly site gaming machines and are
difficult to distinguish from adult gaming centres.
To support the sector and provide clarity for customers in the
changing landscape of land based gambling, the Government is
seeking views on measures to create a clearer distinction between
adult gaming centres and bingo premises. This will ensure that
all premises have a licence type that is appropriate to their
offering. The key proposal we are consulting on is requiring a
‘bingo area'. This would occupy a minimum proportion of venue
floor space, in all licensed bingo venues, where customers can
enjoy a bingo game, whether they play on paper or a tablet, in a
linked or a local game. This will make bingo the primary option
within such venues, protecting the offering to customers and
supporting the industry. It will also close the loophole that
permits the consumption of alcohol in machine-led venues, when
this is prohibited in adult gaming centres. We are also
consulting on rules for the bingo area, including prohibiting
larger gaming machines and requiring a minimum number of
positions for bingo.
I would encourage those in this House who care strongly about
gambling policy, as well as relevant stakeholders, to share their
views through this consultation
