Gaming machines
Gambling Act 2005 - Club Gaming permit, Club Machine permits
The following information is relevant to:
- Holders of Part 2 or Part 3 registration under Gaming Act 1968
- Holders of Club Premises Certificate under Licensing Act 2003
- Persons who are thinking of setting up a club and also offering gaming or gaming machines to its members
Club gaming permit
Club gaming permits replace the permissions provided by Part 2 registration under the 1968 Gaming Act and authorise the use of three or less gaming machines from categories B3A, B4, C or D, equal chance gaming and games of chance as prescribed in regulations.
Club gaming permit applications are most likely to be made by members' clubs and miners' welfare institutes.
Commercial clubs, such as snooker club chains, cannot provide non-machine gaming, other than games which are classed as exempt gaming (see below for details).
Club machine permits
Club machine permits replace the permissions provided by Part 3 registration under the 1968 Gaming Act.
If a club does not wish to have the full range of facilities permitted by a club gaming permit, and just wants gaming machines only, they may apply for a club machine permit.
A club machine permit authorises the holder to have up to three gaming machines of categories B3A (however, this category is not available for commercial clubs) B4, C and D.
Commercial clubs, as well as members' clubs and miners' welfare institutes, may apply for a club machine permit.
Exempt gaming in clubs
Certain games may take place in clubs without needing a club gaming permit, and will be classed as 'exempt gaming', so long as certain conditions are observed as below.
Poker
- the maximum amount staked by a person on any game of poker does not exceed £10
- the aggregate of the amounts staked on games of poker in any one day does not exceed £250
- the aggregate of the amounts that may be staked on games of poker in any period of seven days does not exceed £1,000
- the maximum amount or value of a prize that may be won in any game of poker is £250
Bridge, whist or other kinds of gaming
The maximum participation fee that a club may charge a person to allow them to participate in a particular kind of game on any one day is:
- £18 in respect of bridge or whist (provided that no facilities for any kinds of gaming other than bridge or whist are provided by the relevant club on that day)
- £1 in respect of offering facilities for bridge and whist as well as other kinds of gaming on same day
- Or in the case of a commercial club that holds a club machine permit, £3
Codes of Practice for gaming machines in clubs
Holders of club gaming permits or club machine permits should have regard to the Code of Practice issued by the Gambling Commission. It makes reference to conditions for the location and operation of machines and also best practice for self exclusion and for access to gambling by children and young persons.
Fees
| Grant | £200 |
| Grant (club premises certificate holder) | £100 |
| Existing operator grant | £100 |
| Variation | £100 |
| Renewal | £200 |
| Annual fee (The first annual fee for both permits is £50 - due within 30 days of the issue date of the permit) | £50 |
| Copy of permit | £15 |
Will tacit consent apply?
Tacit consent does not apply to club gaming permits and club machine permits. The Act requires the Licensing Authority to hold a hearing prior to determining an application in the event that an objection is received from the Gambling Commission or the police. Tacit consent would override this requirement.
Application forms and documents
Notification of 2 or fewer gaming machines or gaming machine permit applications (PDF) [90KB]