New gaming machine rules confirmed: session data, safer design from June 2027

What is changing

New category B gaming machines must give players improved access to gambling management tools and session information showing how long they have been playing and how much they have won or lost.

Game design rules are tightening too: prizes below the stake size can no longer be celebrated as wins, and features that reduce the time until a result is known are prohibited.

When and who it affects

The changes follow a consultation linked to the 2023 Gambling Act Review white paper. Existing machines are exempt on technical and cost grounds, and implementation is staged, with the bulk of changes taking effect in June 2027.

The rules cover land-based machines rather than online slots, but the direction of travel is the same as the online stake limits introduced in 2025: more friction, more information, fewer design tricks.

What to take from it

Regulators are steadily removing design features that disguise losses or speed up play. Whatever you play, use the session information and limit tools that exist now rather than waiting for 2027.

Sources

Official support services