Gaming permit

We provide gaming permits for pubs, clubs and other establishments for low-level gambling.

The permits we issue include:

• alcohol licensed premises gaming machine permit
• club gaming permit and club machine permit
• family entertainment centre gaming machine permit
• prize gaming permit

Alcohol licensed premises

If your premises already has a license to sell alcohol, you are automatically allowed to operate up to 2 gaming machines in the premises.

To do this, you need to:

• notify us by completing the gaming machine permit application form (pdf)
• pay the £50.00 fee

The automatic entitlement is only available to licensed premises which:

• are licensed to supply alcohol, for consumption on those premises
• contain a bar
• are not subject to any licence conditions limiting the supply of alcohol to people having meals on the premises

Gaming machines are categorised according to how much they cost to use and the maximum prize available. You can get information on the different categories on the Gambling Commission website

The automatic entitlement allows a maximum of 2 gaming machines from categories C and D.

If you want to operate more than 2 gaming machines, you need to

• complete the gaming machine permit application form (pdf)
• send the application form to the Licensing team
• pay a fee (existing operator £100, new application £150)

There is no limit on the number of machines you can apply for.

Club gaming permit and club machine permit

A club gaming permit is available to members’ clubs or miners’ welfare institutes, but not commercial clubs. It allows the club to offer:

• equal chance gaming such as poker and bingo
• games of chance (pontoon and chemin de fer only)
• up to 3 gaming machines in total of categories B3A, B4, C or D, but by agreement, only one machine can be of category B3A

A club machine permit is available to members’ clubs, miners’ welfare institutes, and commercial clubs. It allows the club to offer:

• equal chance gaming such as poker and bingo
• up to 3 gaming machines in total of categories B3A, B4, C or D, but by agreement, only one machine can be of category B3A (B3A not permitted for commercial clubs)

To apply for a club gaming permit or club machine permit, you need to:

• complete the club gaming permit or club machine permit application form (pdf)
• send the application form to the Licensing team

If you are a part 2 or part 3 operator, the application must include:

• a copy of the registration certificate issued under the 1968 Act
• the fee of £100

If you have a club premises certificate, making a fast-track application, the application must include:

• a copy of the club premises certificate
• the fee of £100

If you are making a new application, the application must include:

• the fee of £200

Once you have made an application, you will need to:

• send copies of the application and attachments to the responsible authorities within 7 days of the application being made

Once we receive your application, we will:

• acknowledge it within 5 working days
• allow 28 days for representations

If we receive any representations, we will take the application to a hearing for councillors to consider. We will then notify you of their decision.

If we do not grant your permit, we will not refund your fee, but you can appeal the decision by writing to us. You can appeal to the magistrates court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

If we do not receive any representations, we will grant the permit.

If we grant your permit, it will be valid for 10 years. You will need to renew your permit between 12 and 6 weeks before the permit expires.

The renewal fee is £200. You will also be required to pay an annual fee of £50.

A fast-track procedure is available for clubs which hold a club premises certificate under the Licensing Act 2003.

Under the fast-track procedure, there is no opportunity for objections to be made by the Gambling Commission or the police and the grounds on which we can refuse a permit are reduced.

Permits granted under the fast-track procedure do not expire unless you surrender it, we cancel it or the club premises certificate is no longer in place. 

The renewal fee for a holder of a club premises certificate is £100.00.