Club gaming and club machine permits

We are asking customers to only submit essential applications. Please be aware that it may take some time to review and process your application. You should expect most applications to take longer than normal to process.

Club gaming permits 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.

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.

Apply

Do not apply for a permit if you have or think you may need a Premises Licence

• Download an application for a club gaming and club machine permit (PDF, 132KB)

Fees

• Information on fees

Application evaluation process

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.

Eligibility criteria

Commercial clubs, such as snooker club chains, cannot provide non-machine gaming, other than games which are classed as exempt gaming as follows:

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

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Page last reviewed: 12 October 2021