News that the UK stake to play a gambling device online is to be locked at £2 for players under 25 and £5 for those older is seen as a benefit to adult gaming centres, as they will at least experience a partially level playing field.

One of the biggest operators is Merkur Gaming, part of the German Gauselmann Group, which has 225 AGCs across the country.

Sascha Blodau, general manager for the UK, told us: “I have spoken with some of the bigger online operators and most seem to think it will not pose them any problems because they have nearly all worked on that stake since 2021.

“The work for them will come in their technical departments, where they will have to develop dual set-ups to handle the two levels of stake for each game.”

As for the impact on AGCs, Blodau (second right at one of the Merkur Gaming openings), said: “It will benefit us possibly, but it is certainly not a disadvantage. We are now looking forwards and remain optimistic.”