Fruit machine prize limit to increase to £100 tonight

The prize limit for fruit machines is set to rise from £70 to £100 from midnight tonight.

The move, which applies specifically to Category C, or fruit machines, has been welcomed as pub-friendly by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The organisation has long campaigned for the change in a bid to maintain machines as an important source of revenue for pubs.

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, commented: "This protects machine income so helps pubs, and should also increase innovation and investment in machines, which is largely a UK-based industry. It is good to see another pub-friendly measure from the government."

The Categories of Gaming Machine (Amendment) Regulations 2014 will take effect from 00:01 on Wednesday 15 January.

The BBPA is a UK body campaigning for pubs and pub owners on issues and laws relating to their profitability and success as businesses. It also oversees staff training and welfare.

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