Gaming machines in unlicensed premises in the UK, such as fast food outlets and taxi offices, have started to be phased out ahead of next year's new gambling laws.
James Morgan-Harris, partner at law firm Thomas Eggar, advises businesses to make arrangements now in order to avoid costly fines and even imprisonment later.
The new Gambling Act will come fully into force on September 1, 2007. However, from the beginning of August, 2006, permits for fruit machines in premises such as take-away food shops and other non-arcade premises have not been renewed.
If a business currently has a fruit machine, it will be allowed to continue to have the same until the current permit expires. Thereafter, businesses will not be able to renew or apply for a new fruit machine permit.
“My advice to all owners and managers of unlicensed premises with prize machines is to carefully check when their existing permissions expire and to make arrangements to have the machines removed when they do,” said Morgan-Harris.
“Failure to do so before September 1, 2007, could put those responsible at risk of prosecution, leading to a fine of up to £20,000 and/ or a term of imprisonment of up to 51 weeks.
“Hopefully, local authorities will be proactive in warning permit holders of these types of premises of the changes. However, ultimately it will be down to the owners and managers to make sure they are within the law.”
