Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to the Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Tables in Casinos) (Definitions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1970) (“the 2009 Regulations”) to alter what constitutes a “gaming table” in a casino for the purposes of section 172(3) to (5) of the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”).

Subsections (3) to (5) of section 172 of the Act make provision as to the number of gaming machines which may be made available for use in a casino by the holders of different types of casino premises licences issued under the Act. As well as a fixed numerical maximum, the number of gaming machines must not exceed a specified multiple of the number of gaming tables used in that casino. (Regulation 3 of the 2009 Regulations addresses when a gaming table is to be treated as being used in a casino at a particular time.)

The effect of the amendments made by regulation 2 is that a gaming table only counts for the purposes of this multiple if it is an apparatus which is designed or adapted to enable individuals to play a real (i.e. non-virtual) game of chance, where the design or adaptation is such that the apparatus needs to be controlled or operated by casino staff.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.