Product
Self-Service Betting Terminal (SSBT)
Reviewed by iGaming Times editorial teamLast reviewed 5 October 2026
What is SSBT?
A self-service betting terminal (SSBT) is a touchscreen kiosk in a betting shop or other venue on which customers place sports and racing bets themselves instead of at the counter, paying with cash or, on some models, a card or account, and receiving a printed ticket or account credit. SSBTs display the operator's betting menu, including in-play markets that are impractical at a counter, and let a shop take more bets at busy times without extra staff.
In Great Britain they are legally distinct from gaming machines. Section 235(2)(c) of the Gambling Act 2005 provides that a machine is not a gaming machine merely because it is designed or adapted for betting on future real events, so SSBTs do not count towards a premises' gaming machine allowance and have no statutory stake or prize limits. A terminal that takes bets on computer-generated virtual races, however, is a gaming machine and is regulated as one.
Key takeaways
- An SSBT is a betting kiosk that automates over-the-counter sports and racing bets in shops and other venues.
- In Great Britain SSBTs are not gaming machines, so they fall outside machine numbers and stake and prize limits.
- A terminal offering bets on virtual races is a gaming machine and must meet the relevant category limits.
- Licensing authorities can restrict the number, nature and circumstances of SSBTs through premises licence conditions under section 181.
Why it matters
SSBTs are how retail betting has tried to keep pace with online. They bring the full digital betting menu into the shop, cut queues at peak times and reduce staffing costs, and they let operators link retail and online activity through shared accounts, which is the practical core of omnichannel strategy. For suppliers, an SSBT is hardware plus software that must integrate with the operator's sportsbook platform, cash handling and ticketing, and sell into estates of thousands of shops.
The regulatory treatment is distinctive. Because GB law excludes machines used to bet on future real events from the gaming machine definition, SSBTs escaped the stake reductions that hit FOBTs. But they remain under scrutiny. Operators must supervise them to stop under-18s using them, licensing authorities have an express power to restrict their number, nature and circumstances by licence condition, and when considering limits they are told to weigh staff's ability to monitor use by children, young people and vulnerable people. The Gambling Commission also regards SSBTs as a form of remote communication, so a remote licence is needed where they are used to facilitate bets by others.
The line with virtual sports matters commercially: offering virtual races moves a terminal into gaming machine rules, which changes how many a shop can have and what they may offer.
Self-Service Betting Terminal (SSBT) vs Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT)
| Self-Service Betting Terminal (SSBT) | Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) |
|---|---|
| An SSBT takes bets on real future events, such as football matches and horse races, and in Great Britain is not a gaming machine. | An FOBT is a category B2 gaming machine in a betting shop offering casino-style games, subject to machine numbers and stake limits. |
The two can sit side by side in a shop but fall under different rules. Stake limits for FOBTs do not apply to SSBTs, which is why the legal boundary matters to operators.
The bottom line
An SSBT is a self-service bet counter. It brings digital betting choice into retail shops, and in Great Britain it is regulated as a betting facility rather than a gaming machine, unless it starts offering virtual races.
Sources
- Guidance to licensing authorities, Part 19: Self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) - Gambling Commission
- Guidance to licensing authorities, Part 20: Self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) on tracks - Gambling Commission
Frequently asked questions
What does SSBT mean in betting?
SSBT stands for self-service betting terminal. It is a touchscreen machine in a betting shop or venue that lets customers browse markets and place sports or racing bets themselves, paying with cash or other methods and getting a printed slip, instead of queuing at the counter. Winning tickets are usually paid at the counter or back through the terminal.
Is an SSBT a gaming machine?
Not in Great Britain, as long as it takes bets on real future events. Section 235(2)(c) of the Gambling Act 2005 excludes machines designed or adapted for betting on future real events from the gaming machine definition. If a terminal offers bets on virtual, computer-generated races, it is a gaming machine and counts towards the premises' machine allowance.
Are there stake limits on SSBTs?
There are no statutory stake or prize limits on SSBTs in Great Britain, because they are not gaming machines. Operators set their own limits as part of their risk management, and licensing authorities can attach conditions to premises licences restricting the number of SSBTs, their nature and the circumstances in which they are made available.
Can licensing authorities restrict SSBTs?
Yes. Section 181 of the Gambling Act 2005 gives licensing authorities an express power to restrict the number, nature and circumstances of use of SSBTs by attaching a condition to a betting premises licence, or to a casino premises licence where betting is permitted. They should consider whether staff can monitor use by children, young people and vulnerable people.