Bacta creates new working group on machine gaming standards

The British trade association for arcades and gaming machine suppliers has created a working group on technical standards that aims to inform regulators.

UK.- The trade association Bacta, which represents arcades and gaming machine suppliers in the UK, has created a new technical standards working group to provide information and recommendations on best practice.

The group aims to create a new approach to how the gaming machine sector is represented to regulators. Bacta said the group would inform, recommend and update regulatory stakeholders as to industry developments and best practices on standards.

The working group will be chaired by Alan Claypole, head of product development at Blueprint Gaming. Matt Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, has been named vice-chair.

BACTA called for gaming machine manufacturers and operators licensed in the UK, whether in gambling or hospitality, to take part in the group’s directives, which will have supporting guidance from the Gambling Business Group.

Claypole said: “The recent emergence of land-based digital gaming has introduced new technologies, applications and enhanced player experiences into the gaming industry.

“It would now seem appropriate to review the existing BACTA industry standards. Therefore, in the short term the main objective of the Working Group will be to revise, expand and enhance the current standards.

“The Working Group will have a very good amount of knowledge and experience from across the gaming industry, I look forward to working with the members.”

Bacta’s CEO John White noted that the creation of the group comes as the UK government reviews current gambling legislation, with wholescale changes in regulation likely.

He said: “Until now the industry standards were ably curated by Bos Anderson, director of technology at Bell-Fruit Games, and Bob Lawrence, who was formerly at Barcrest but who is now retired.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bos and Bob enormously for their hard work over the years. The fact that many of these industry standards have been successfully employed in machines over many many years is testament to their work. Bos will shortly be leaving the industry and we wish him well for the future.”

In November, Bacta announced that its members would stop allowing under-18s from playing on Category D cash fruit machines at seaside arcades and family entertainment centres. Bacta is also one of the associations backing Safer Gambling Week 2021, which will take place November 1 – 7.