DCMS releases proposed regulations for land-based UK casinos 

Key points:

– DCMS has laid out new rules regarding how many gambling stations a casino may operate based on size

– Casinos with over 500sqm of floor space may have up to 40 positions

The UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released its proposal for The Casinos (Gaming Machine and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations, having presented them to Parliament. 

The amendments, separate to the upcoming White Paper, must be accepted by the Government before they are implemented.  

The Casinos (Gaming Machine and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations are set to come into force on 22 July 2025, and impact England, Wales and Scotland in different capacities.

There are several segments to the regulations, including rulings on casino premises sizes, the size of gaming floor areas, and the size and availability of non-gaming space and facilities with bathrooms.  

The maximum number of betting positions must align with DCMS’ proposal. While not extensive, this includes: 

Size of floor area (sqm): >280, max separate betting positions: 16

Size of floor area (sqm): 380-399, max separate betting positions: 28

Size of floor area (sqm): 420-439, max separate betting positions: 32

Size of floor area (sqm): 500+, max separate betting positions: 40 

Good to know: DCMS appointed Fiona Twycross as Minister for Gambling in July 2024 

Alongside these space and machine requirements, the regulations also suggest that the Secretary of State review The Casinos (Gaming Machine and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations from time to time and publish reports on each review. The first review must be published before five years have passed, with the review needing to include the objectives of the regulations, whether these objectives were achieved and whether these objectives are still appropriate.  

The proposal from DCMS follows a roundtable discussion hosted in April, where representatives from bodies including the Betting and Gaming Council discussed the future of the UK gambling industry and the importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders and policymakers. Other topics discussed included responsible gambling, economic impact and regulatory changes.  

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Beth Turner

Gambling Writer

Beth Turner is a journalist and Senior Staff Writer at Players Publishing, where she contributes news and feature content to leading B2B gaming titles, including Gambling Insider, Gaming America, Sports Betting Focus and Trafficology. Based in the London area, she has been part of the editorial team since October 2023, progressing to Senior Staff Writer in February 2025.

In her role, Beth covers key developments within the global gambling and iGaming landscape, producing insightful reporting on regulatory shifts, operator strategy, sponsorship trends and emerging market activity.

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