The British slots association Bacta has announced that it will no longer allow persons under the age of 18 to play Category D slots at coastal gaming clubs and family entertainment centers.
The decision will be ratified at Bact's annual general meeting on November 26 and will take effect on March 1. Slot machines will remain available for adults only.
Bacta president James Miller said the decision has been made to showcase that the arcade is a safe family location.
Our members are committed to providing fun and entertainment for the whole family as part of their annual vacation or day trip to the seaside. We take social responsibility extremely seriously, and although the Category D cash slot machines operate at very low stakes and prize limits, which are mostly played by adults for fun and nostalgia, we wanted to do our best to limit the potential risk of harm from gambling - He said James Miller.
CEO John White said that fruit slots got out of hand due to their long tradition, but public opinion has evolved.
Category D fruit vending machines have long been considered part of the entertainment offer associated with a holiday by the sea and a trip to the arcade. Therefore, in the past, regulators did not impose any age restrictions on them. However, our members understand that perception is changing and we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect players. John White.
Bacta supports Britain's Safer Gambling Week, which starts on November 19.