Club gaming and club machine permits
Members' clubs wishing to provide gaming machines or high-value gaming in their premises, for the exclusive use of members, can apply for one of two types of permit to allow this:
- Club machine permit - allows any members' club, including commercial clubs, to make up to three gaming machines available for use.
- Club gaming permit - allows three gaming machines to be operated, and enables the club to offer prize gaming without limits on the stakes and prizes, (but subject to other restrictions).
They are not available to commercial members' clubs - only to clubs operated by and for the benefit of their members.
Clubs that make gaming machines available for use must ensure that they comply with the Code of Practice on the Gambling Commission website.
Gaming machines are categorised according to how much they cost to use and the maximum prize available.
Clubs holding one of these permits may make up to three machines from categories B4, C and D available for use. Non-commercial members' clubs may instead choose to offer one machine from category B3A and two other machines from the categories above.
Please see our information sheet for details of the maximum charges and prizes applicable to these categories.
Permits can be granted for fixed premises only, and not vehicles or vessels.
Criteria for clubs applying for permits
Any club applying for a permit must:
- have at least 25 permanent, individual members
- not exist only to operate for a limited period
- not exist mainly to provide gambling facilities (bridge and whist clubs are the exception).
In addition, members' clubs applying for club gaming permits must be established and directed for the benefit of their members, and must not be run as a commercial enterprise.
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An application can be made for a permit in respect of any premises occupied by the club for the use of members. Usually, the club secretary (or for commercial clubs, a director or other executive board member) will need to authorise the club's application.
Club gaming permit and club machine permit application form (PDF, 278KB)
Before completing an application form, we recommend that applicants read the 'club gaming permits and club machine permits' section of our Statement of Principles for further information on our expectations of permit holders.
Please send the completed application form to us, together with a payment of £50. Our address is on the form.
You must also send copies of the completed application form to the Gambling Commission and the Metropolitan Police within seven days of making the application. Either of these bodies may object to your application within a 28-day period.
If we have concerns about your application, or if objections have been received, we will hold a hearing to consider your application. A decision will then be made to either grant or refuse your application.
We will look into matters including whether:
- the premises are used wholly or mainly by children or young people
- the club has not previously committed any gambling-related offences or breaches of permits or licences
- no previous gambling permits held by the club have been revoked in the last 10 years.
Where applications are refused, there will be a right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of notification of the refusal.
No further conditions can be attached to a permit beyond the statutory conditions that automatically apply to permits, requiring that:
- no child or young person is to be allowed to use a category B or C gaming machine
- the club complies with the Code of Practice on the Gambling Commission website.
- every person participating in gambling must have been a club member, or have applied for membership, at least 48 hours before participation, or be a genuine guest of such a member. This applies to non-commercial clubs only.
Fast-track applications for clubs with club premises certificates
Another application process applies to clubs that hold club premises certificates under the Licensing Act 2003. These clubs are able to make 'fast-track' applications by completing the relevant section of the application form. Different fees apply to fast-track applications.
Because the structure of the club has already been examined during the application process for the certificate, clubs making use of this provision will not have to send copies of their application form to the Gambling Commission or the Metropolitan Police. Objections cannot be made against the application by those bodies.
Applications may be refused if the licensing authority believes that:
- the club is established or conducted wholly or mainly for gaming, apart from bridge or whist
- the club is established or conducted wholly or mainly for bridge or whist, and provides facilities for gaming of another kind
- the club has had a gambling permit cancelled in the previous 10 years.
Any permit granted under the fast-track process will have an unlimited duration, but will lapse if the club premises certificate ceases to have effect. Annual fees will be payable to maintain the permit:
Maintaining your club permit
Both types of club permits are valid for 10 years. An application to renew a permit may be made 6-12 weeks before it expires.
The annual fee, which is currently £50, is payable for all club permits. The first fee becomes due 30 days after the permit was granted, and on the anniversary of the grant afterwards. We make revoke a permit if the annual fee is not paid.
Permits are not transferable, and any new occupier of the club's premises must apply for a new permit.
Permits will also be cancelled if:
- the status of the club changes
- the club is believed to have committed an offence or breach of a condition relating to gambling
- the premises is used wholly or mainly by children or young people.
The original permit must be kept on the premises to which it relates, and produced for inspection if requested by a police officer or a Gambling Commission enforcement officer. If lost, stolen or damaged, a duplicate permit can be obtained from the council, but a fee will be payable for this. It will also be necessary to report lost or stolen permits to the police.
Permits can be surrendered if no longer required by returning the original permit to the council with a note explaining this.