The Gambling Commission has announced it will publish its response to the GMTS consultation proposals in September 2026, before undertaking a staged approach to implementation approximately six months after publication.

Senior policy manager Graham Burgin reiterated the response document will set out the Commission’s “final decisions”, but gave operators an indication of the “direction of travel” in relation to existing gaming machines, games, and staff alerts.

“We heard, for example, industries’ concern around the direct costs associated with our proposals,” said senior policy manager Graham Burgin. “Your feedback helped to frame our thinking and where we consider there was legitimate and evidenced concern, we plan to make changes to our proposals.”

“We do not envisage that existing gaming machines/games will be required to be removed from the marketplace. This decision responds directly to industry concerns around costs to business, and in particular to smaller licensees and the social club sector.”

Proposals for staff alerts will also undergo changes to “better recognise regulatory burden and broadly improve consumer benefits/journeys.”

“I should be clear that the timeline will be much closer aligned to the feedback that suggested two years for delivery than that which highlighted a five year plus timeframe.”