Fruit machines in cafés & takeaways

Gambling Act 2005: changes that affect your business

Under the Gambling Act 2005 fruit machines have been phased out of take away food shops and other non-arcade premises such as:

  • cafés and restaurants
  • minicab and taxi offices
  • guesthouses
  • other non-arcade and unlicensed premises

This is to ensure that children and other vulnerable people are not exposed to gambling in certain non-gambling premises. Though this does not include pubs, clubs and other alcohol licensed premises or amusement arcades.

Under the Gambling Act 2005 the premises listed above were not allowed to renew their expired fruit machine permits or apply for a new permit. These businesses are no longer able to operate gaming machines.

It is illegal to offer fruit machines in the premises listed above.

The Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has prepared a fact sheet for businesses with a permit for a gaming machine issued by their local authority under Section 34 of the Gaming Act 1968.

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Page last updated: 07 September 2021

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