UKGC: No Central Data on Pub Fruit Machines

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A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) does not hold a central database detailing the number or location of lower-stake gaming machines in the nation's pubs, bars, and restaurants.

The request, dated 2 April 2025, asked for a comprehensive list of all active Class C and D gaming machines across 12 local authorities in the North East of England. However, the regulator responded that it held no such information.

This disclosure highlights a significant data gap in the oversight of ambient gambling, where machines are present in non-gambling focused venues. For consumers and researchers, it means there is no single, national source to understand the density and distribution of these machines, which are often a person's first interaction with gambling.

The Data Gap Explained

The FOI request sought a detailed breakdown of machine locations, including business names and addresses. In its response, the UKGC clarified its regulatory role and why it could not fulfil the request.

Key points from the UKGC's response include:

• Local Authority Responsibility: The licensing of premises for gambling, including the installation of machines, is the responsibility of local licensing authorities, not the UKGC.
• Automatic Entitlement: Pubs and other alcohol-licensed premises have an automatic right to site two Category C or D gaming machines simply by notifying their local authority.
• Permits for More Machines: To install more than two machines, a venue must obtain a specific gaming machine permit from its local authority.
• No Central Collection: The Commission confirmed, "The Commission does not collect information on the specific number of machines within each premises."

Essentially, the responsibility for tracking these machines is decentralised, resting with hundreds of individual councils across the country.

Why This Matters for Consumers

Class C machines, commonly known as fruit machines, have a maximum stake of £1 and a top prize of £100. Class D machines have lower stakes and prizes, often aimed at younger players where permitted.

While the UKGC maintains a register of licensed gambling premises like betting shops and casinos, this FOI response confirms there is no equivalent, easily accessible national register for machines in pubs.

The lack of a central database makes it challenging to conduct large-scale research into the relationship between machine density, gambling participation, and potential harm. It places the burden of data collection on individuals and organisations, who must contact each local authority separately to build a regional or national picture.

For consumers and local communities concerned about the prevalence of gambling facilities, this means transparency depends entirely on the accessibility of information provided by their local council, rather than a unified national source.