The Category B2 meaning in slots is the class of gaming machine best known as the fixed-odds betting terminal (FOBT), found in betting shops, casinos and tracks. Since 1 April 2019 a B2 takes a maximum stake of £2, down from £100, with a top prize of £500.
B2 machines are the terminals formerly known as FOBTs.
Maximum stake £2 since 1 April 2019 (it was £100); maximum prize £500.
They are allowed in betting shops, casinos and tracks with pool betting, never in arcades or pubs.
A betting shop can have up to four machines from categories B2 to D.
Maximum stake
£2 (was £100 until 31 March 2019)
Maximum prize
£500
Common name
FOBT
Where
Betting shops, casinos, tracks with pool betting
Minimum age
18
What Category B2 means
Category B2 is one of the five Category B subtypes in the Gambling Act 2005 machine categories. It covers the touchscreen terminals that appeared in British bookmakers from around 1999 to 2001 (sources differ on the start) under the name fixed-odds betting terminals. The 2005 Act gave them legal standing as B2 machines, a category that one academic account says was designed to bring FOBTs within the rules.
A B2 is still a gaming machine with a random number generator, and many offer slot games alongside roulette-style content. What sets it apart in the glossary is where it can be sited and the history of its stake limit.
The B2 stake cut from £100 to £2
Until 31 March 2019, a B2 could take up to £100 per game. After a government review that began in October 2017 and a decision in May 2018, the maximum fell to £2 from 1 April 2019. The change was made by SI 2018/1402 (opens in a new tab), which also tightened the B3 definition so that only B3, not B2, machines can be used in adult gaming centres and bingo halls.
Category B2 timeline
Date
What happened
Around 1999–2001
FOBTs appear in betting shops (sources disagree on the year)
2003
Industry code limits shops to four machines, £100 stake, £500 prize
1 September 2007
Gambling Act 2005 regime in force; FOBTs become Category B2
Load money into the terminal; card payments directly into gaming machines remain restricted.
Choose a game and a stake of up to £2.
Start the game; the RNG settles the result.
Any win, up to £500, goes to your credit balance.
Cash out to a ticket or the counter, depending on the shop.
Like other Category B machines, a B2 must show a theoretical target return to player, and it must pass independent testing by a Commission-approved test house before use. No minimum return is set.
Worked example: what the £2 limit means in pounds
Before April 2019, a single £100 game was legal. Today the same £100 covers 50 games at the £2 maximum. If a B2 game shows a target return of 95% (illustrative only), those 50 games have an average cost of £5, though any one session could lose the full £100 or show a profit. Lower stakes don’t remove the house edge; they slow down how fast money is staked.
The house edge and volatility explain why the average and the real result rarely match over a short session.
Where Category B2 machines are allowed
The Commission’s B2 gaming machines page (opens in a new tab) lists casinos, betting shops and tracks with pool betting. A betting shop is allowed up to four machines in total from categories B2 to D, which is why you rarely see more than four terminals in a bookmaker. Arcades, bingo halls and pubs cannot offer B2 at all. Read our guide to betting shop machines for what each terminal usually offers.
All Category B machines are 18+. If B2 play is costing more than you meant to spend, the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is free and open 24/7, and bookmakers run their own self-exclusion schemes.
Where to play: B2 terminals and online slots
B2 terminals are only in venues; our partners are online casinos with their own rules. Online slots for adults aged 25+ are capped at £5 a spin, and £2 for those aged 18 to 24, which is close to the B2 limit. Coral Casino’s new-player offer: bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins (10p each, selected games, 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use, no wagering on winnings, 18+, some payment types excluded).
Ladbrokes Casino’s offer for new customers 18+: play £10 on slots for up to 500 free spins, given as 50 a day over 10 days at 10p each, with no wagering and daily claims by 23:59. Both brands belong to LC International Limited, so read the terms on holding two accounts. Terms apply.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does B2 mean on a gaming machine?
B2 is a Gambling Act 2005 category for the gaming terminals found mainly in betting shops, once known as fixed-odds betting terminals. A B2 can take up to £2 per game and pay a maximum prize of £500. It is allowed only in betting shops, casinos and tracks with pool betting, and only for adults aged 18+. Compare it with other subtypes in our guide to UK slot machine categories.
Is a FOBT the same as a Category B2 machine?
Yes, in everyday use. FOBT, short for fixed-odds betting terminal, was the name for the bookmaker terminals before the Gambling Act 2005 created the category system, and the Act brought them in as Category B2. The name stuck in the press and in politics, especially during the debate over the £100 stake. Our history of FOBTs and the page on slot machines in Britain give the background.
When did the B2 maximum stake drop to £2?
The £2 maximum stake took effect on 1 April 2019. It replaced a £100 limit and was made law by SI 2018/1402, made on 20 December 2018. The change was originally expected in October 2018 but was delayed to April 2019, and operators rolled it out through software updates. The government’s decision followed a review started in October 2017. See our rules hub for other dated changes to UK machines.
How many B2 machines can a betting shop have?
A betting shop can have up to four gaming machines in total from categories B2 to D, excluding B3A. That might mean four B2 terminals, or a mix of B2, B3, C and D machines, but never more than four. Category B3A lottery machines are only for members’ clubs. Our pages on betting shop machines and machine entitlements set out the numbers for every type of venue.
Can you play slots on a B2 machine?
Yes, B2 terminals often carry slot games as well as roulette-style and other casino content, all within the £2 stake and £500 prize limits. The game still runs on a random number generator, and the machine must show a target return to player. Because a B2 can host several games, check the help screen for each one. Our guide to how to play a slot machine covers the basics.
Can I use a debit card on a B2 terminal?
Not directly at present. The rules that restrict debit and credit card payments into gaming machines still apply. The government decided in May 2024 to lift the debit card ban only once player protections are in place, but no change has been confirmed in force. Until it is, decide how much cash you will load before you start. Our page on cashless payments on machines tracks what has and hasn’t changed.
Are B2 machines more addictive than other slots?
No single machine type causes problems on its own, though the B2 stake was cut after years of public debate about how much could be staked per game. Anyone can run into trouble on any category if spending gets out of hand. If that sounds familiar, the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free, and our page on signs slot play is a problem lists warning signs and support.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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