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This week, the UK government dealt a blow to the country’s adult gaming (AGC) centres, shelving plans to ease gambling regulations on high-stakes slot machines.Top Crypto Casino in Saudi Arabia – BitStarz Ranked #1

A spokesperson for the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) declared that its decision to review the so-called “80/20 rule” has been delayed indefinitely and will not now happen in 2025.

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The law states that only 20% of all AGC or bingo venue slot machines can be Category B3 terminals. These B3 terminals have a maximum stake of £2; all prizes are capped at £500.

The remaining 80% of AGC machines must be lower-stakes Category C or D units, which are capped at £1 per stake and have prize money limited to just £100.

The directive to lower the proposed ratio of B3 machines was first touted as part of a broader 2023 gambling white paper. Initially, it proposed loosening the rules to a more favourable 50/50 split, but even then, others from within the AGC industry were calling to remove the ordinance altogether.

However, this week’s revelation of the proposal’s pause has already riled the AGC sector, who argue that the outdated 80/20 regulation stifles the industry’s growth.

Following the decision, John Bollom, President of Bacta, the UK’s leading trade association representing arcades and low-stakes gambling venues, contended: “This reform is common sense, safe for players, and good for our ailing high streets.”

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Despite the AGC industry’s assertions, the DCMS insisted its decision was influenced by its concerns about insufficient safeguards across the sector to protect vulnerable gamblers. Nevertheless, while government officials asserted that the industry needs to focus on ensuring stronger player protections, they did not rule out revisiting the issue later.

AGCs are known to forge mixed feelings in the UK, with the public perception often tainted by high-profile scandals. The most recent occurrence resulted in regulators fining slot machine operator Merkur Group UK £95,450 earlier this year.

Critics of changing the regulations governing the industry include former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, who currently chairs a parliamentary group probing the effects of problem gambling.

Speaking on the matter, Duncan Smith stated, “Given the insufficient protections in place for people in these venues and the addictive nature of these machines, increasing their numbers should be ruled out entirely, and the current widespread breaches of regulations by AGCs, which are now proliferating on our high streets, must be urgently looked into.”

The DCMS’ announcement followed recent demands by a coalition of more than 39 local authorities calling for local councils to be granted greater powers to limit high street gambling outlets. Demonstrating cross-party support, Labour MP Beccy Cooper also responded to the news, supporting the decision, claiming, “Communities must be empowered to reduce gambling harms,” she said.

With the fate of the 80/20 ruling stalled for now, the AGC sector’s growing footprint across the UK shows no signs of slowing. However, the mounting public and political pressure has, for now, led to the DCMS pushing back on the AGC industry’s desire to install more high-stakes B3 machines.