A package of British statutory instruments effective from 22 July 2025 modernised parts of the land-based casino regime. The Gambling Commission's guidance explains that qualifying converted casino premises can access new entitlements, subject to floor-space and machine-to-table conditions. The changes are technical, but they affect practical decisions about layout, equipment mix and licensing.
Machine allowances are conditional
The guidance says a qualifying converted casino with a gambling area of at least 280 square metres may make up to 80 gaming machines available on a sliding scale, provided machines do not exceed five times the number of gaming tables used. Connected or immediately adjacent converted casinos are subject to a combined cap in specified circumstances. Smaller premises have different rules.
For Small 2005 Act casinos, the machine-to-table ratio moved from two-to-one to five-to-one, while the minimum table-gaming area requirement was reduced from 500 to 250 square metres. These changes do not mean every venue can simply add machines: premises licences, measured areas and other conditions still determine what is permitted.
The meaning of a table
The revised definition clarifies that a qualifying gaming table must be controlled or operated by casino staff for the relevant allowance calculation. A product in which a player can trigger the game and determine the outcome without direct staff involvement cannot be counted in the same way. That distinction matters as electronic table products become more sophisticated.
The Commission also reminds licensees to consider changes to their risk assessments, controls and any required operating-licence variation. This article is a news summary, not legal advice; the regulator's full guidance and legislation should be used for a specific premises decision.
