Published
Land-BasedLegal & Regulatory

Gambling Commission urges pubs to prevent underage fruit machine gambling

The Gambling Commission (GC) has called for pubs in England and Wales to increase efforts to prevent under-18s from accessing gaming machines, known as fruit machines, within their properties.

gambling commission logo

Children are not permitted to play the category C machines, which have a maximum stake of £1 ($1.29) and a maximum prize pay-out of £100.

A GC review across 170 pubs found 84% are failing to prevent under-18s from accessing the machines.

According to the GC, pub staff are responsible for ensuring children do not use them, while clear signage should indicate age restrictions.

However, a similar review last year found 88% of pubs in England failed to prevent children accessing fruit machines, so there has been a marginal improvement across the board.

Helen Rhodes, GC Programme Director, said: "The pub industry must accelerate action to enforce these rules.

"Pubs must take age verification on machines as seriously as they do for alcohol sales; and they risk losing their entitlement to offer machines if they do not.

"We urge the pub sector to respond to this opportunity to protect children and young people, and to prevent the need for local authorities to take enforcement action."

Premium+ Connections
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
 
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium Connections
Consultancy
Executive Profiles
Light & Wonder
Westgate Resorts
Imagine Live
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana
GGA: EMEA 2025 Shortlist
Follow Us

Facing Facts: Q3 2024 analysis

Gambling Insider takes a look at the Q3 results of operators...

Taking stock: The final count of 2024

Gambling Insider tracks operator and supplier prices of some...

CEO Special: Flutter CEO Peter Jackson – Playing to win

As the biggest publicly traded operator in gambling meets th...

CEO Special: Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter – High flier

Petra de Ruiter, Holland Casino CEO, speaks to Gambling Insi...

A welcome from your host

A message from the Founder of the Global Gaming Awards and G...

From the event manager

A message from the Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards...

From the Awards adjudicator

KPMG in the Crown Dependencies is the official voting adjudi...

The process

The Global Gaming Awards have deservingly earned the reputat...