Machines Generally Not Needing A Licence

The following machines do not generally need a licence and are not liable to duty:

• crane grab machines;
• children’s rides;
• table football games;
• snooker and pool tables;
• bar billiards;
• vending machines and jukeboxes;
• laser games usually played in a labyrinth with a portable ‘gun’.

Exempt Machines

The following machines are generally exempt from AMLD and can be provided for play without a licence:

• Two-penny machines – where the cost per play is not more than 2 pence.
• Five-pence play and ten-pence play small-prize (AWP) machines – with a cost per play of 10 pence or less.
• Prize video machines (SWPs – Skill with Prize machines) – with a cost per play of 50 pence or less.
• Amusement machines that do not give prizes – principally pinball and video machines that do not give prizes, with a cost per play of 50 pence or less.

New Technology

Most machine suppliers now offer several high-tech machines based on the latest digital technology. Many of these new ‘entertainment terminals’ not only offer prize video games, but also provide facilities for tournament playing and downloading ringtones and games onto mobile phones. Touch screen AWPs are also being introduced which aim to replicate the traditional ‘reel spinning’ fruit machines in a video format.

Both these types of machines have their content changed regularly via a telephone link, preventing the need to physically remove and replace the equipment when customers get tired of the games.

As machine technology advances, you can expect more games and services available from pub machines, which aim to broaden their appeal from the traditional hardcore gamer to a wider audience.

Maximising Your Awp And Swp Income

Machines need to be managed if you wish to maximise the income you earn from them. Here are some simple but effective ways you can do this:

• Position your machines where they can be seen and in areas of good ‘traffic flow’.
• Make sure your machines are switched on, otherwise they cannot be played.
• Keep them clean and well presented.
• Report any faults to your supplier as soon as possible.
• Monitor the performance of your machines and ask your supplier to replace machines that are not popular, or have declined in popularity.
• Listen to feedback from your core machine players and communicate their views to your supplier.
• Seek advice from your machine supplier or Machine Controller on which types of machines would suit your pub and clientele.
• Promote your machines by using POS (point of sale material) available from your supplier.