There are three types of Club recognized under the Act:
- Members' clubs - these must have at least 25 members and be established or conducted mainly for purposes other than gaming. The Club should not be established to make a commercial profit and should be controlled by its members. Examples include most sports clubs, working men’s clubs, branches of the Royal British Legion and politically affiliated clubs. Although members clubs should generally be established or conducted for purposes other than gaming, regulations may permit certain types of gaming clubs.
- Commercial clubs - these have the same characteristics as members clubs, except that they are established to make a profit. An example of such a club would be a snooker club. Certain bridge and whist clubs may operate as commercial clubs if they are established to make a profit.
- Minors' welfare institutes - the definition of this class of club has changed to reflect social and economic changes since their establishment. These are associations established for recreational or social purposes. They are managed by a charitable trust which has received funds from one of a number of mining organisations.
Under Section 271 of the Act, the licensing authority may grant members’ clubs and miners’ welfare institutes (but not commercial clubs) Club Gaming Permits which authorise those establishments to provide gaming machines, equal chance gaming and games of chance as prescribed in regulations. This is in addition to the exempt gaming authorisation under Section 269 of the Act.
Club Gaming Permits allow the provision of no more than three gaming machines. These may be from Category B4, C or D. The Club is permitted to choose the combination of machines on its premises.
If a Club does not wish to have the full range of facilities permitted by a Club Gaming Permit or if they are a commercial club not permitted to provide non-machine gaming (other than exempt gaming under Section 269 of the Act), they may apply to the Authority for a Club Machine Permit under Section 273 of the Act. This authorises the holder to have up to three gaming machines of categories B4, C and D.
Club Gaming Permits replace the permissions provided by Part II registration under the 1968 Gaming Act, whilst Club Machine Permits replace the permissions provided by Part III registration under the 1968 Act.
Transitional Arrangements
Before 31st August 2007, you may apply to the Magistrates Court to renew existing Part II and Part III Registrations, or for the first registration, in the normal way.
After 1st September 2007, the following arrangements will apply:
a Club registration under Part II will be treated as if it holds a Club Gaming Permit under the Act
a Club registered under Part III will be treated as if it holds a Club Machine Permit under the Act
these arrangements will expire on the date on which your current registration is due to expire.
Applications should be made to the licensing authority for the relevant Club Permit under the Act at least two months before the date on which your registration is due to expire. At that stage the club registration will be converted into an actual Club Gaming or Club Machine Permit.
You may download guidance notes and flow charts explaining in detail the above arrangements.
There are applicable fees for the provision of a Club Gaming or Club Gaming Machine Permit.
Once released by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), application forms for Club Permits will be available from this page.