News: Machines Seized By Gambling Commission

  • Date: 27/05/2011
  • Source: Poppleston Allen
  • Author/Solicitor: Nick Arron



The Commission have issued a press release following enforcement action taken on Tuesday 24th May in which gaming machine equipment and other assets were seized. The operation was coordinated with four Police Forces and forms part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal manufacture and supply of gaming machines. Search warrants were executed at three residential addresses and they visited fourteen businesses including a number of alcohol licensed premises. There is no indication from the Commission of any wrong doing by the alcohol licensed premises and indeed they may well have been innocent victims of illegal supply.

According to the Commission they seized twenty suspected illegally supplied gaming machines including a number of Skill Top Roulette machines.

The Skill Top Roulette machines have been the subject of previous warnings and publicity from the Gambling Commission. Back in September 2010 the Commission warned clubs and pubs that suppliers may be offering Skill Top Roulette machines as skill with prize machines when in fact the Commission believe they are gaming machines. This is on the basis that machines presented as offering games of chance such as roulette, bingo or poker are legally gaming machines not skill with prize machines.

To ensure you are compliant and do not fall victim to the illegal supply of machines check your supplier's Operating Licence. It should be a Non Remote Gaming Machine Technical Supplier or a Non Remote Gaming Machine Technical Full licence.

It would also be an appropriate time to check the permissions you have. Alcohol licensed premises should have notified the Council that they will be operating one or two gaming machines or have applied for and been granted a Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit. The permit will state the number and category of machines, which in a pub is category C or D.

If you have any doubt regarding the legality of your machines, please contact Nick Arron for more information.