| What | How will it be implemented? | Next steps | Current status | Implementation date |
| Minimum age of 18 to play football pools, society lotteries and cash pay-out Category D slot machines | Secondary legislation | Category D slot machines:
The Government intends to implement measures which introduce a legal age limit of 18 for ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines which includes low stake machines like coin push and slot-style fruit machines. For now, the Government does not intend to introduce measures which require ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines to be moved to age-restricted areas. |
The DCMS consultation on measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, here, closed on 4 October 2023. On 16 May 2024, the DCMS published its response here, as it relates to implementing a minimum age for Category D slot machines.
Category D slot machines: The Government will make permitting, inviting or causing under 18s to play ‘cash-out’ Category D slot style machines a criminal offence through a draft affirmative statutory instrument. The penalty for the offence of inviting, causing or permitting a child or young person to gamble as set out in s62(1) of the Gambling Act 2005 will remain the same. |
TBC |
| Move from ‘Think 21’ to ‘Think 25’ for land-based licensees | Social Responsibility and Ordinary Codes will be amended which will require all land-based licensees (including small-scale licensees) to implement ‘Think 25’. | On 1 May 2024, the Gambling Commission published its response, here, to which age verification procedures for land-based licensees will be stricter, with the requirement for all operators to implement ‘Think 25’. The LCCP has been amended to reflect the change in age verification testing. | The Gambling Commission Summer 2023 consultation closed on 18 October 2023.
The DCMS consultation on measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, here, closed on 4 October 2023. |
Amended LCCP Ordinary codes (3.2.2, 3.2.4, 3.2.6 and 3.2.8) took effect on 30 August 2024. |
| Introduction of test purchasing for small land-based operators | Social Responsibility and Ordinary Codes will be amended which will require all land-based licensees (including small-scale licensees) to conduct age verification test purchasing. | On 1 May 2024, the Gambling Commission published its response, here, to which age verification procedures for land-based licensees will be stricter, with the requirement for operators to conduct age verification test purchasing – including small operators. | The Gambling Commission Summer 2023 consultation closed on 18 October 2023.
The DCMS consultation on measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, here, closed on 04 October 2023. |
Amended LCCP Social Responsibility codes (3.2.3, 3.2.5, and 3.2.7) took effect on 30 August 2024. |
| Increased powers for licensing authorities regarding gaming machines in premises with alcohol licences | Secondary legislation | Legislation to be made when Parliamentary time allows | TBC |
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