Category D Gaming Machines Explained
Category D gaming machines are a distinctive part of Britain’s amusement and gaming-machine market.
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Category D Gaming Machines Explained
Unlike Category C machines, Category D doesn’t have one universal stake and prize combination. The category includes several types of low-stake equipment, including fruit-machine-style games, coin pushers and crane grab machines.
Category D is also particularly important because it is the gaming-machine category that can be played by under-18s.
What Is a Category D Gaming Machine?
Category D is the lowest-stake gaming-machine category within the main British classification system.
Machines can include:
- Fruit-machine-style games
- Penny falls
- Coin pushers
- Crane grabs
- Cash-prize machines
- Non-cash-prize machines
- Combined cash and non-cash-prize machines
Different limits apply according to the particular machine and prize type.
Category D Stake and Prize Limits
Current Gambling Commission limits include:
Money-prize machine: maximum 10p stake and £5 prize.
Non-money prize machine, excluding crane grabs: maximum 30p stake and £8 prize.
Crane grab: maximum £1 stake and £50 non-money prize under the Commission’s current category table.
Combined money and non-money prize machine, excluding coin pushers: maximum 10p stake and £8 total prize, of which no more than £5 can be money.
Coin pusher/penny falls: maximum 20p stake and £20 total prize, of which no more than £10 can be money.
Because these limits differ, businesses should identify the precise type of Category D equipment rather than referring to every machine simply as a “Category D fruit machine”.
Where Can Category D Machines Be Used?
Category D machines can be found in various permitted environments, including:
- Family entertainment centres
- Pubs
- Travelling fairs
- Adult gaming centres
- Bingo premises
- Clubs
- Casinos
- Certain betting and track premises
Unlicensed family entertainment centres can provide Category D machines where they hold the appropriate local authority permit.
Travelling fairs are also permitted to provide Category D machines subject to the relevant requirements.
Category D Machine FAQs
What is a Category D machine?
It is a low-stake gaming-machine category covering several types of equipment including certain fruit-machine-style games, coin pushers and crane grabs.
Can children play Category D machines?
Yes, although access to the premises itself may still be age-restricted.
What is the maximum Category D jackpot?
There isn’t one universal maximum. Prize limits depend on the type of Category D machine.
Are penny pushers Category D?
Coin pusher and penny falls machines can fall within Category D.
Are crane machines Category D?
Crane grab machines are normally defined as Category D machines.
Can pubs have Category D machines?
Yes, qualifying pubs can make Category C or D machines available subject to the applicable notification or permit arrangements.
Are Category D machines the same as Category C?
No. Their stakes, prizes and age requirements differ significantly.
Find Out More
If you’re choosing gaming machines for a pub, club, arcade or entertainment venue, understanding the category is essential.
Explore our guides to Fruit Machine Categories, Category C Fruit Machines, Pub Fruit Machine Licensing and Fruit Machine Hire for further information.
Can Children Play Category D Machines?
Yes. Under-18s are permitted to play Category D machines.
This is one of the most significant differences between Category C and Category D.
However, this does not mean children can enter every premises containing Category D machines. For example, adult gaming centres are adult-only premises.
The type of premises therefore remains important.
Category D Fruit Machines
Some Category D equipment uses familiar fruit-machine-style gameplay.
These are much lower-stake than Category C pub machines and operate within the applicable Category D limits.
This makes it important not to assume that every machine resembling a fruit machine has the same stake, prize or age restrictions.
Penny Falls and Coin Pushers
Coin pushers are strongly associated with British seaside arcades and family entertainment centres.
Players insert coins into a machine in an attempt to cause coins or prizes positioned on moving shelves to fall.
These machines have their own Category D stake and prize limits.
Crane Grab Machines
Crane or claw machines are another familiar form of Category D equipment.
Players control a mechanical grab in an attempt to retrieve a non-cash prize.
Current Category D rules provide a specific stake and prize structure for this type of equipment.
Category C vs Category D
For venue operators, the most important differences concern stake, prize, age and premises.
Category C currently allows up to a £1 stake and £100 prize and is 18+.
Category D operates with lower limits that vary by machine type and is the category available for play by children and young people.
Category D Machines in Pubs
Qualifying alcohol-licensed premises can use their automatic gaming-machine entitlement for Category C or Category D machines.
The automatic entitlement covers up to two machines in total after the appropriate notification—it does not mean two Category C plus two Category D machines.
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