Changes to the regulatory framework for land-based casinos: draft secondary legislation

The Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations were laid before Parliament in draft on 12 May 2025 (“the draft Casinos Regulations”).

This Regulations introduce several updates to the UK’s gambling framework.

Regulation 3 increases the number of gaming machines permitted per gaming table in small casinos from two to five, while maintaining an overall cap of 80 machines per premises.

Regulation 4 reduces the minimum size of the table gaming area in small casinos from 500.

The draft Casinos Regulations form part of a package of interlinked statutory instruments which make changes to the regulatory framework for land-based casinos.

The other two linked statutory instruments are being published alongside the draft Casinos Regulations to enable proper scrutiny of the whole package of changes. These are:

the Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order, and
the Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences and Provisional Statements) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations.

The negative procedure applies to both of these statutory instruments. If the draft Casinos Regulations are approved by both Houses, Ministers intend to make the No.6 Amendment Order prior to signing the draft Casinos Regulations. This will allow the missing SI number to be replaced in the draft Casinos Regulations which is currently marked by asterisks.