The UK Gambling Commission has decided to take a series of measures to prevent “unscrupulous operators” from sub-dividing their premises, whether artificially or temporarily, in order to obtain multiple licenses and operate a higher number of slot machines.

This announcement comes while industry operators are waiting for the government’s actions to temper the financial crisis bingo halls and gaming machine venues are experiencing. Many of said halls were forced to get rod of thousands of slot machines due to the new regulations.

The legislation approved last September states that each venue can only have up to four machines with £500 jackpots and only casinos are allowed to offer higher prizes. Though high-jackpot machines mean good profits for operators, the UK Gambling Commission considers them a source of gambling problems.

“We will not hesitate to recommend additional regulations ... required to underpin the clear policy intentions of the act” the Commission informed the members of the gaming industry in a letter, clearly stating its intentions to take every necessary measure to control the number of slot machines.