UK slot machine categorisation

Slot machines in the UK are categorised by the gambling committee in relation to the Gambling act 2005 which was put in place to modernise the previous legislation of the Gambling Act 1968.

Slot machines are grouped into categories A, B, C, and D. Any casinos built under the previous 1968 legislation were allowed to house up to twenty machines of categories B to D or any amount of C and D machines. As of the latest 2005 legislation this all changed however with large casinos able to offer 150 machines of any combination of categories except A. Small casinos would only be able to offer 80 machines of any category, again excluding A. The reason they are excluded from housing category A machines, is that these slots were specifically categorised for the super casinos that were planned to be built, however with the decision not to build a super casino there are no lawful category A machines.

A category A machine would have an unlimited maximum stake with an unlimited maximum win.

Category B machines are divided into subcategories B1, B2, B3, B3A and B4. The difference between all of these except B2 is the maximum stake and winnings allowed. B2 games however are different; these are defined as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. The majority of these are found inside bookies, and can take the form of things such as roulette and are all based on random number generators.

Category C games are predominately known as fruit machines which are common within pubs and arcades with the maximum stake permitted at £1 and the maximum winnings of £70
As for Category D machines these are slightly different. Their maximum stakes vary between 10p and £1 with their winnings being either £8 cash or £50 non cash.