A discussion on Category D machines, low stakes in seaside locations, took place among members of UK trade association Bacta at its National Council meeting held yesterday.
If new regulations declare that Category D machines have to go into a separate room to prevent access by children, then it would be a problem for the seaside operators.
The subject was raised by operator Lloyd Nichols, who asked what the policing of these games would mean. It was pointed out that it would be down to the operators to police it.
Family entertainment centre operator James Miller said that the industry had worked well under self-regulation introduced by Bacta and it would be down to the business to monitor itself. He said that children were exposed to gambling machines in other environments, but it was not a problem because of the association’s initiative on self-regulation, but if it became illegal for children to play Category D machines then it would elevate the problem.
An operator from Skegness emphasised that it would be "down to us" to police this, but it was pointed out that this was hardly likely to be imposed upon the industry until next year at the earliest.
