If you’re thinking about adding arcade machines to your pub, café or family venue, you might be wondering whether you need a licence. The short answer: it depends on the type of machine and whether it offers prizes. This guide explains the basics in plain English.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, and your local licensing authority has the final say on what applies to your venue.
The quick answer
✅
No prizes, usually no permission
Video and racing games, boxers that show a score, air hockey, pool and football tables, kiddie rides.
⚠️
Prizes by chance, permission needed
Machines where you pay to play and can win money or a prize partly by chance, including most crane grabbers.
Machines that don’t pay out prizes
Machines where you play for fun or for a score, with no money or prizes to win, are generally not gaming machines under the Gambling Act 2005. You’d normally be able to have these without any gambling permission, though the usual rules about safety, electrics and your premises still apply.
Machines where you can win something
Machines where you pay to play and can win money or a prize, and where the result depends at least partly on chance, are gaming machines. The Gambling Commission says this includes most crane grabbers and many prize machines. These machines are put into categories, and the lowest, Category D, has the smallest stakes and prizes and is the kind usually found in family venues. To have one, your venue needs the right permission, and what that looks like depends on the type of venue.
What applies to your venue
🍺
Pubs
Pubs with an alcohol licence for drinking on the premises have an automatic entitlement to up to two Category C or D machines. Notify your council and pay a fee. More than two needs a licensed premises gaming machine permit.
🎠
Family venues
Venues aimed at families, such as amusement centres, can apply to the council for an unlicensed family entertainment centre (uFEC) permit. This allows Category D machines only.
☕
Other venues
Cafés, leisure centres and other venues without an alcohol licence or permit generally can’t host gaming machines, but can usually have machines that don’t offer prizes.
Where to check
- Your local council’s licensing team
- The Gambling Commission’s guide to gaming machine categories
- The Gambling Commission’s guidance on machines in pubs (automatic entitlement)
How we can help
When we visit, we’ll talk through which machines suit your venue and what permissions might be involved, so there are no surprises. Many of our most popular machines, including boxers and video games, don’t offer prizes at all.
Not sure what you can have?
Book a free site visit and we’ll talk it through.
Leave a Reply