Club machine and gaming permits
Clubs wishing to provide gaming machines or high-value gaming on their premises, for the exclusive use of members, can apply for one of two types of permits:
- Club machine permit allow any club, including commercial clubs, to provide up to three gaming machines for use by members only.
- Club gaming permit allow up to three gaming machines to be operated, and also allow the club to offer prize gaming for club members without limits on the stakes and prizes (but subject to other restrictions). They're not available to commercial clubs, only to clubs operated by and for the benefit of their members.
Legislation summary
View the Gambling Act 2005.
Eligibility criteria
Any club applying for a permit must satisfy the following criteria:
- the club must have at least 25 permanent individual members
- the club must not be established only to operate for a limited period
- the club must not be established and conducted wholly or mainly to provide gambling facilities (with the exception of bridge and whist clubs)
Apply for a permit
Once your application has been submitted and paid for online, it's automatically sent to the responsible authorities, so there is no need for applicants to send in paper hard copies.
Licence length
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.
Annual fee
The first fee becomes due 30 days after the permit was granted, and on the anniversary of the grant afterwards. We can revoke a permit if the annual fee is not paid.
Fees
View our Gambling Act fees (PDF, 144kb)
Page last updated: 21 September 2023
