Gaming Machine Entitlements for Pubs
Thinking about putting a fruit machine in your pub — or wondering if you’re already breaking the rules with the ones you’ve got? The good news is that the law here is more generous than most landlords realise, and getting it right is simpler than it looks. Here’s exactly what you’re entitled to, what counts as “automatic,” and what happens if you want more.
The short version
If you hold an alcohol licence for your premises, you’re automatically entitled to site two gaming machines from Category C or D — no permit application required, just a notification to your local authority. This is called your Automatic Entitlement.
Want more than two? You’ll need to apply for a Gaming Machine Permit.
What is Automatic Entitlement?
Any premises with a licence to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises qualifies for Automatic Entitlement. Once you notify your local authority, you can site up to two machines from either:
- Category C — the classic pub fruit machine
- Category D — lower-stake machines, often aimed at a wider audience
You don’t need permission granted to you — the entitlement exists as soon as you notify the council. It’s a formality, not an application you can be turned down for.
What’s a Category C machine?
Category C machines are what most people picture when they think “pub fruit machine” — also known as one-armed bandits or AWPs (Amusement With Prizes). If your local has a flashing, spinning-reel machine in the corner, it’s almost certainly a Category C. They’re the most common machine type found in pubs across the UK.
How the machines are usually supplied
Very few pubs buy their machines outright. Instead, they’re typically sited under a rental or profit-share agreement with a machine supplier, who owns, maintains, and services the equipment in exchange for a cut of the takings or a fixed rental fee. This means no upfront capital outlay for the pub — the supplier handles installation, servicing, and compliance, and you simply host the machine and share the income.
Want more than two machines? You need a permit
If two machines isn’t enough for your venue, you can apply to your local authority for a Gaming Machine Permit. The council will consider your application and, if approved, issue a permit specifying the total number of machines you’re allowed to have on site.
One important point: the permit replaces your automatic entitlement — it doesn’t stack on top of it. So if your permit authorises four machines, that’s four in total, not four in addition to your original two.
You’re still restricted to Category C or D machines under a permit — you can’t use it to bring in higher-stake categories. And if you ever change the category of a machine you have on site, you must notify your local authority.
Stakes and prizes: the full breakdown
Each machine category comes with fixed maximum stakes and prizes set by law. Here’s the current table:
| Category | Maximum Stake | Maximum Prize |
|---|---|---|
| C | £1 | £100 |
| D (non-money prize) | 30p | £8 |
| D (non-money prize — crane grab) | £1 | £50 |
| D (money prize) | 10p | £5 |
| D (combined money & non-money prize) | 10p | £8 (incl. max £5 money prize) |
| D (combined money & non-money prize — coin pusher / penny falls) | 20p | £20 (incl. max £10 money prize) |
Quick recap
- Automatic Entitlement: 2 machines (Category C or D), just notify your local authority — no permit needed.
- More than 2 machines: apply for a Gaming Machine Permit; the local authority sets your total allowance.
- Permit vs entitlement: the permit total replaces the automatic entitlement, it doesn’t add to it.
- Changing categories: always notify your local authority.
- Machines are usually rented or profit-shared through a supplier, not bought outright.
Ready to add a machine to your pub?
Once you know your entitlement, the next step is finding a supplier who makes the process easy — no upfront cost, no long tie-in contract, and someone on hand when the machine needs servicing.
If you’re running a pub or social club in Birmingham, Comrie Automatics has been supplying digital fruit machines to venues across the West Midlands since 1965. They install for free, there’s no contract, and their engineers can typically be with you the same day or next morning if a machine needs attention. It’s a straightforward way to make sure your two automatic-entitlement machines — or more, if you’ve got a permit — are the latest digital games your regulars actually want to play.
