Spanning a 74-point divide between London boroughs, new figures show major variations in the proportion of pubs licensed to offer gaming machines across the capital.

New figures have revealed significant differences in gaming machine uptake across London’s pubs, ranging from 93 percent of premises in Sutton to just 19 percent in Camden.

Freedom of Information data analysed by South West Londoner found Sutton had the highest proportion among the boroughs examined, with 39 of its 42 pubs licensed to operate gaming machines. Kingston followed at 85 percent, with 50 of 59 pubs licensed, while Newham recorded 35 of 44 premises, equivalent to 80 percent.

At the opposite end of the scale, just 44 of Camden’s 226 pubs – 19 percent – held gaming machine licences. Tower Hamlets recorded 38 of 132 premises at 29 percent, while Croydon stood at 35 percent and Haringey at 44 percent. 

Alcohol-licensed premises are automatically entitled to provide up to two Category C or D gaming machines after notifying their licensing authority, although pubs are not required to install them. Additional machines require a licensed premises gaming machine permit.

The figures provide a snapshot of how differently pubs across the capital have incorporated machine gaming into their offering. They also come as pubs continue to contend with increased operating costs, making secondary revenue streams increasingly important across the licensed trade. Gambling Commission figures show Britain’s land-based gambling sector generated approximately £4.8bn between April 2024 and March 2025, although revenue specifically generated by machines in pubs is not separately published.