Gaming machine technical standards are the Gambling Commission’s rulebook for how every land-based machine in Great Britain must behave: game features, on-screen notices, metering and general operation. New standards published on 30 September 2026 add a session standard from 30 March 2027 and wider changes from 30 June 2027, bringing new machines closer to the rules online slots have followed since 2021.
The Gambling Commission publishes twelve standards documents, split by machine category and by technology such as cashless systems and linked progressives.
Licensees must comply with them under licence condition 2.3.1, and B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines must be checked by an approved independent test house.
Since 29 July 2026 licensees must remove specified non-compliant machines once the Commission tells them in writing.
An interim session standard starts on 30 March 2027 and the finalised standards on 30 June 2027.
Reported changes for new machines include player limit-setting, time and net position displays, and bans on celebrating sub-stake returns and on slam stops.
Published by
Gambling Commission
Standards documents
12 (by category and technology)
Compliance duty
Licence condition 2.3.1
Non-compliant machine removal
In force 29 July 2026
Interim session standard
From 30 March 2027
Finalised standards
From 30 June 2027
What the gaming machine technical standards are
The gaming machine technical standards, often shortened to GMTS, are detailed technical requirements that every gaming machine sited in Great Britain must meet. Parliament sets the big numbers (stake and prize limits for each category) through regulations; the Gambling Commission sets the engineering detail through these standards. They cover game features, the notices a machine must display and general machine operation, including the meters that record money in and out.
If the UK gaming machine categories tell you what a machine may charge and pay, the technical standards tell you how it must get there: how fast a game may run, what it must say on screen, how credit is shown and what must be recorded. They sit alongside the rest of the land-based rulebook listed on our UK rules hub.
The twelve gaming machine technical standards documents
The Commission’s gaming machine technical standards page (opens in a new tab), last updated on 30 September 2026, lists separate standards for each group of machines and for the technology that links them. Splitting them this way lets a Category D pusher and a B1 casino slot carry very different requirements.
Gaming machine technical standards documents and what they cover
Standard
Covers
Categories A and B1
Highest-stake machines; B1 is the £5 casino category
Category B2
Betting shop terminals, often called FOBTs
Categories B3 and B4
£2 machines in bingo halls, AGCs, betting shops, clubs and casinos
What gaming machine technical standards control on the machine
The January 2025 consultation draft of the standards, which the Commission published for comment, gives a clear picture of what a machine must do. Most of its clauses appear to restate rules already in force, but treat the figures below as the draft wording rather than the final text.
Game speed
The draft set a minimum game cycle of 2.5 seconds for Categories A, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B3A. Category C was allowed 1.5 seconds at maximum stake, provided the hourly average stayed at 2.5 seconds, and complex Category D had a 1.5-second minimum with a 2.5-second average.
Display notices
Categories A to C and complex D must show that the game is random, using the wording THIS GAME IS RANDOM.
A compensated machine must say so, and that the result may be influenced by previous play.
B3A machines must show THIS IS A LOTTERY MACHINE.
Credit must be viewable as a money value, and live jackpot values must be shown.
Rules, pay tables and game details must be available before the player commits to a game.
Return to player
Categories B1 to B4 and C must display a theoretical target return to player; B3A must show actual RTP for each lottery class; Category D must show one unless it is a crane grab or penny falls. No category has a legal minimum RTP. Our page on RTP information rules explains how to read these figures.
How machines are tested against the technical standards
Standards only matter if someone checks them. Licence condition 2.3.1 requires licensees to comply with the Commission’s technical standards and with its requirements on the timing and procedure of testing. The gaming machine testing strategy (opens in a new tab) sets out which machines need which checks.
The manufacturer designs the machine and its software to the relevant category standard.
For Category B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines, an independent test house approved by the Commission tests the machine against the standard.
The test house issues its report; the licensee chooses and pays the test house.
The Commission reviews test reports and annual audits but does not repeat the testing or run its own game tests.
The approved machine goes on sale and is sited within the category’s stake, prize and entitlement limits.
The Commission’s own page warns that its standards should not be relied on as a measure of a machine’s reliability, quality or security. They set a floor for compliance, not a quality rating.
The 2025 to 2026 review of gaming machine technical standards
The Commission opened its gaming machine consultation on 29 January 2025, covering the technical standards, the testing strategy and licence conditions. It closed on 3 June 2025, and the response came in two parts.
Part 1: removing non-compliant machines
The part 1 response (opens in a new tab), published on 29 January 2026, added a licence condition requiring licensees to remove specified non-compliant gaming machines once the Commission notifies them in writing. It came into force on 29 July 2026.
Part 2: finalised standards
On 30 September 2026 the Commission published the finalised standards. Its page confirms two start dates: an interim standard defining a gaming machine session from 30 March 2027, and the finalised standards and testing strategy from 30 June 2027. One file name on that page refers to 30 March 2027 for the testing strategy while the link text says 30 June 2027, so check the PDF itself if the exact date matters to you.
What changes for new machines from 30 June 2027
The Commission’s part 2 response page could not be checked directly. Trade press coverage from 30 September and 1 October 2026 reported these decisions, and they match the direction set out in the consultation:
Reported changes in the finalised standards (secondary sources)
Change
Which new machines
Online equivalent
Player can set limits; play pauses with safer gambling information when one is hit
Categories A, B1, B2, B3, B3A and B4
Deposit limit tools and prompts
Elapsed time and net position on screen
Categories A, B1, B2, B3, B3A and B4
Online slots since 31 October 2021
No celebrating a return equal to or below the stake
Categories A, B and C
Online slots since 31 October 2021
No features that shorten time to result (slam stop, turbo)
Categories A, B and C
Online slots since 31 October 2021
Staff alerts
Category B licensees, by 3 October 2028
Customer interaction duties
Existing machines were reported to be exempt, so a cabinet already on the floor in June 2027 should not need changing just because the new rules start. If you have played online, these will look familiar: our pages on losses disguised as wins, the net position rule and the 2.5-second spin rule explain the online versions.
Worked examples: what the standards mean for a session
Speed and cost
At the draft 2.5-second minimum game cycle, a machine can run at most 1,440 games an hour. On a £2 B3 machine that is a theoretical ceiling of £2,880 staked in an hour at maximum stake. Most players stake less and play more slowly, but the arithmetic shows why game speed is a harm-reduction tool: halving speed halves what can be staked per hour.
A sub-stake return
Suppose you stake £1 on a new Category C machine and it returns 40p. Under the reported June 2027 rules, the machine may pay the 40p but may not play winning music or flash lights as if you had won: you are 60p down on that game. The same rule has applied to online slots since October 2021.
Net position
A player puts £40 into a new B3 machine, wins back £18 over 25 minutes and has £0 credit left. The reported display rule means the screen would show 25 minutes elapsed and a net position of minus £22, rather than leaving the player to work it out.
Who must follow the gaming machine technical standards
The duty falls on Commission licensees: manufacturers and suppliers of machines and software, and operators who site machines in casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, adult gaming centres and licensed family entertainment centres. Pubs and clubs running Category C and D machines rely on licensed suppliers whose machines must meet the standards.
For players, the effect is indirect but real: the label, the RTP display, the random notice and the speed of play you meet on a Category B2 terminal or a pub fruit machine are there because of these standards. Our guide on how to read a machine label shows where to look.
What the machine technical standards do not cover
Stake and prize limits. These come from regulations under the Gambling Act 2005, not from the standards.
How many machines a venue may have. That is set by premises entitlements; see machine entitlements.
Online slots. Remote games follow the separate remote gambling and software technical standards; see UK slot game design rules.
Age limits. Who may play which category comes from the Act; see Category D age rules.
Debit card payments on machines, which depend on the 2007 Circumstances of Use Regulations and a government decision not yet in force.
Licence condition on removing non-compliant machines in force
30 September 2026
Part 2 response and finalised standards published
30 March 2027
Interim session standard in force
30 June 2027
Finalised standards and testing strategy in force
3 October 2028
Staff alert requirements for Category B licensees (reported)
Do technical standards make machines fair?
They make machines honest about what they are, which is not the same as making them good value. A machine can meet every standard and still return, say, 80p in the pound over the long run, because the law sets no minimum RTP. Standards stop a machine hiding its odds, running faster than allowed or misreporting credit; they do not stop the house edge.
They also do not make a machine hot, cold or due. A random machine has no memory of past games, and a compensated machine must declare itself. Our pages on whether slot machines are rigged and the house edge go further.
Online slots and their own technical standards
Online slots follow a different set of technical standards, which already include the 2.5-second spin minimum, the ban on slam stops and the net position display that new machines adopt from June 2027. Coral Casino and Ladbrokes Casino are both licensed through LC International Limited (account 54743), so check the terms if you hold an account with one already.
Coral offers new players aged 18+ 100 free spins (10p each, selected games) for betting £10 on slots between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, with 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use and no wagering on winnings. Ladbrokes offers new customers 50 free spins a day for 10 days, up to 500 at 10p each, after depositing and spending £10 on slots; claim before 23:59 each day, use within 7 days, no wagering. Excluded payment methods apply at both. 18+, 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 are gaming machine technical standards?
They are the Gambling Commission’s detailed requirements for how land-based gaming machines in Great Britain must work. They cover game features, display notices such as the random-game message, credit and jackpot displays, metering and general operation. There are twelve documents, split by category (from A and B1 down to non-complex D) and by technology such as cashless systems and linked progressives. Licensees must comply under licence condition 2.3.1. See UK slot machine categories for how the categories differ.
When do the new gaming machine technical standards start?
An interim standard defining a gaming machine session starts on 30 March 2027, and the finalised standards and testing strategy start on 30 June 2027, according to the Commission’s standards page updated on 30 September 2026. One file name on that page shows 30 March 2027 for the testing strategy, so check the document if that date matters. Separately, a licence condition on removing non-compliant machines has applied since 29 July 2026. Our what changed for slots guide tracks these dates.
Will old fruit machines have to be replaced in 2027?
Reports of the September 2026 decisions say existing machines are exempt from the new player-protection requirements, which apply to new machines. That means a pub fruit machine already in service should not need replacing just because the finalised standards start on 30 June 2027. Separately, the Commission can now require a licensee to remove a specified non-compliant machine by written notice, a power in force since 29 July 2026. See our pub fruit machine guide for how these machines work.
Who tests gaming machines in the UK?
Independent test houses approved by the Gambling Commission. Category B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines must be tested by one, and manufacturers of machines and machine software must use an accredited, approved test house. As at 2 March 2026 the Commission listed 14 approved test houses, eight of them approved for gaming machines. The licensee chooses and pays the test house, and the Commission reviews reports and audits rather than repeating the tests. Read how machines are tested for the process.
Is there a minimum spin time on UK gaming machines?
Yes. The January 2025 consultation draft of the standards set a 2.5-second minimum game cycle for Categories A, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B3A. Category C could run 1.5 seconds at maximum stake as long as the hourly average stayed at 2.5 seconds, and complex Category D had a 1.5-second minimum with a 2.5-second average. These figures are from the draft, which largely restated existing rules. Online slots have had a 2.5-second minimum since 31 October 2021; see the spin speed rule.
Do the technical standards set a minimum payout percentage?
No. The standards and category rules require most machines to display a return to player figure, but no category has a legal minimum RTP. Categories B1 to B4 and C show a theoretical target RTP, B3A shows the actual RTP for each lottery class, and Category D shows one unless it is a crane grab or penny falls. A figure of 80% means an average of 80p back per £1 staked over the long run. See payout percentages in the UK.
Will land-based machines get a net position display like online slots?
Yes, for new machines. Trade reports of the 30 September 2026 decisions say new Category A, B1, B2, B3, B3A and B4 machines must show elapsed time and net position from 30 June 2027, together with player limit-setting that pauses play and shows safer gambling information when a limit is reached. Online slots have shown net position since 31 October 2021. The net position rule page explains how the online version works.
Will slam stops be banned on fruit machines?
Reports of the September 2026 decisions say new Category A, B and C machines may not include features that shorten the time to a result, such as slam stops or turbo, from 30 June 2027. Existing machines are reported to be exempt. Online slots have banned slam stops since 31 October 2021. On any machine, stopping reels early does not change a result that has already been decided by the random number generator. See is stopping the reels a skill?.
What does THIS GAME IS RANDOM mean on a machine?
It means each result is decided independently by the machine’s random number generator, with no adjustment based on what has been paid out recently. The consultation draft of the standards requires this notice on Categories A to C and complex Category D. A compensated machine, which adjusts its play to hit a target payout, must instead say that it is compensated and may be influenced by previous play. See compensated machines for how the two types differ.
Do online slots follow the gaming machine technical standards?
No. Online slots follow the Commission’s remote gambling and software technical standards, a separate document. Those already require a 2.5-second minimum spin, ban slam stops, turbo and autoplay, ban celebrating returns equal to or below the stake, and require net position and elapsed time on screen, all since 31 October 2021. The 2027 machine changes bring new land-based machines closer to that model. See UK slot game design rules for the online rules.
Where can I read the official gaming machine standards?
On the Gambling Commission’s gaming machine technical standards page, which lists all twelve standards documents and the finalised 2027 documents for information. The testing strategy and the list of approved test houses are on separate Commission pages, and the part 1 consultation response explains the non-compliant machine condition. For a plain-English route through the rules, start with our UK slot machine rules guide and the rules hub.
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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