DCMS Reviews Gaming Machine Rules and Bingo Licences Across UK Pubs

_{Slots and Bingo Events Under Scrutiny. (Image: MBI/Alamy)}

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has opened a consultation that could reshape how pubs and entertainment venues across Great Britain manage low-stakes gaming machines and bingo events.

Low-Stakes Gaming Machines Under Review

The UK government is asking whether Category D gaming machines, coin pushers, grabber games, and low-stake slots should continue to be exempt from specific licensing requirements.

Currently, pubs, clubs, and family entertainment centres can offer these machines without applying for a separate permit. The exemption was originally designed to make low-risk games easier to operate. However, as gambling habits and technology evolve, DCMS is questioning whether that policy still protects young people and aligns with modern gambling safeguards.

Officials have outlined two possible approaches: keeping the current exemption system or introducing mandatory permits for all Category D machines. The department is requesting evidence from operators and stakeholders to determine whether the existing system creates inconsistencies or loopholes in regulation.

Rethinking Bingo Licensing Rules

The consultation also addresses how bingo is defined and licensed under current gambling law. While premises licences remain mandatory for dedicated bingo venues, the DCMS recognises that the nature of bingo has shifted, with smaller and community-based events becoming more common.

The review will examine whether current licensing rules place unnecessary burdens on local organisers and small venues that host low-stakes or social bingo sessions. Policymakers are exploring ways to make licensing more proportionate without weakening consumer protections.

Part of Wider Gambling Reforms

This consultation forms part of the government’s broader Gambling White Paper reform programme, announced in April 2023, which aims to modernise gambling legislation across the UK. Other reforms include stricter online gambling safeguards, updates to land-based gambling provisions, and new rules around marketing and sponsorship.

DCMS officials have said any resulting policy changes will be “evidence-led and proportionate,” with a continued focus on protecting minors and vulnerable players from gambling-related harm.

Industry Invited to Respond

Licensed operators, local authorities, trade bodies, and members of the public are encouraged to submit responses before the consultation closes on 4 December 2025. The department is specifically seeking data-driven feedback on how current laws affect operators and what impact proposed changes could have on business and player safety.

For pubs and other licensed venues, the outcome could affect the cost and complexity of offering low-stakes gaming and bingo as part of their entertainment mix.

Consultation deadline: 4 December 2025
Submission link: gov.uk/dcms-gambling-consultation