Bacta has responded to UK government’s Gambling White Paper announcement on land-based reforms. The trade association, which represents the amusement and gaming machine industry in the UK, said it will actively engage with Gambling Commission officials to ensure the introduction of cashless play in 2025.
John Bollom, Bacta President, stated: “This is a good day. The Minister is to be congratulated for creating the conditions which will allow the land-based sector to go forward.
“The progress achieved is a testament to the hard work of Bacta and our members in making the case for reform. I would like to thank all the Bacta members who have helped in this campaign which has taken 4 years.
“We hope that Parliament will give a smooth passage to these proposals, so they are passed into law before the General Election. Bacta will actively engage with Gambling Commission officials to ensure the introduction of cashless play in 2025”.
Earlier this month, the UK government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published new regulations for the land-based gambling sector. The next step for these regulations, published in response to consultation on white paper proposals, will be for them to be presented before Parliament.
Apart from cashless payments, proposals outlined in the White Paper include new rules on gaming machine allocations, and allowing all casinos to offer sports betting for the first time.
Regarding casino measures, the DCMS stated that it would allow “1968 Act casinos to increase the number of their gaming machines to 80 if they meet the size requirements of a Small 2005 Act casino.” The government will also allow smaller 1968 Act casinos to have “more than 20 machines, on a pro-rata basis commensurate to their size,” while betting will also be permitted in all casinos.