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UK to rule on bingo hall slot machines -sources

Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:43pm EDT

LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - Britain will make an announcement on Wednesday about slot machines in bingo clubs, a government source said on Monday, in a move expected to give the sector a lift by relaxing limits on the number of slot machines.

An industry source said the government would raise from four the maximum number of 500-pound ($980) jackpot slot machines allowed in bingo clubs by choosing one of three options put to it by operators.

New gambling laws last year hit the industry hard by forcing the removal of thousands of the highly profitable 500 pound jackpot machines from bingo halls. One option being considered by the government is to allow the number of jackpot machines to be linked to the size of the bingo hall, the source said.

A second option would be to allow 20 percent of all machines to be 500 pound jackpot machines. The final option would allow up to a maximum of 15 top-prize machines. (Reporting by UK equities; Editing by David Holmes)



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