<The Gaming Board for Great Britain is the governing body for gaming
in Great Britain.
The Gaming Act 1968 is the current legislation that affects gaming. A
copy of the Gaming Act 1968 can be obtained through local booksellers
or from: The Stationery Office (mail, telephone and fax orders only)
PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN (General enquiries 0870 600 5522).
A new Gaming Bill has been proposed and is currently progressing
through parliament (a link to a copy of the proposed legislation is
given below.)
There are three ways to operate card clubs in Great Britain:
1. Licensed Casino Premises ? Gaming Under Part II Gaming Act 1968.
2. Premises Registered under Part II Gaming Act 1968
3. Gaming Under Part IV Gaming Act 1968.
Under current legislation it is virtually impossible to legally
organise a poker competition other than in a licensed casino. In order
to make a commercial gain, the only option is to operate a card room
in licensed casino premises.
Licensed Casino Premises ? Gaming Under Part II Gaming Act 1968.
A club can only be set up in one of the allocated permitted areas for
gambling. For a list of permitted areas see
http://www.culture.gov.uk/gambling_and_racing/QuickLinks/f_a_q/faq_casino.htm?properties=%2C%2Fgambling%5Fand%5Fracing%2FQuickLinks%2Ff%5Fa%5Fq%2Fdefault%2C&month
A prospective card club operator must first apply to the gaming board
for a certificate of consent showing that he or she is a fit and
proper person to run a club. The applicant company must be
incorporated in Great Britain. Alternatively an individual may apply
and must be over 21 years old and have been resident in Great Britain
for the 6 months prior to the application.
Factors that are taken into account in determining whether or not a
certificate is granted include capability, diligence, reputation,
financial standing and other relevant circumstances of those applying.
The test of fitness is set out in paragraphs 4(5) and 4 (6) of
schedule 2 to the Gaming Act 1968. It takes at least 6 months for the
application process during which the applicants will be interviewed.
The cost is £8200.00
Once a certificate of consent has been issued, the holder can progress
to the licensing stage. An application to the Local Gaming Licensing
Committee for a licence to conduct gaming on the relevant premises can
be made. A casino licence costs £29,640.00
Hours and Charges Regulations 1984, determine the operating hours and
charges that can be made.
Gaming Boards Guidelines No.3, detail how competitions must be run.
(Source: Gaming Board for Great Britain.)
http://www.gbgb.org.uk/card_clubs.htm
Guideline 3 ? Competitions in Card Rooms (revised 12 March 2004.)
(Source: Gaming Board for Great Britain.)
http://www.gbgb.org.uk/bcaguides.htm
Casino licences costs.
Grant £29,640.00
Renewal £8150.00
Transfer £7855.00
Consent Application £8200.00
Consent Transfer £5125.00
(Source : Gaming Board for Great Britain.
http://www.gbgb.org.uk/gaming_board_fees1.htm
The Gaming Board for Great Britain gives guidelines for setting up a casino.
http://www.gbgb.org.uk/faq.htm
The application forms are available here.
http://www.gbgb.org.uk/forms.htm
------------------------------------------------------
Alternative places to play poker.
Private dwelling.
Poker can be played in a private dwelling but not in a public place.
Private members club.
Poker can take place in a private members club. There must be at least
25 members. The club must be formed for the general benefit of the
members and not for commercial gain for the proprietor or any such
persons. No bankers games can be played. Gaming must not be the
principal purpose for which the club is established or conducted.
Registered clubs can charge members up to £2 per day. Unregistered
clubs can only charge 60p a day.
Charities or good causes.
Equal chance gaming can also be held at entertainments not held for
private gain and money can be raised for the club or other
organisation on whose behalf the entertainment is promoted. Bankers'
games can not be played. The entire proceeds of the payments received
from players must, after deduction sums equivalent to the reasonable
cost providing the facilities for the games be applied to purposes
other than private gain.
Players may make one payment up to £4, there is no limit on the
stakes, but these must all be returned to the winners. Prizes or
awards in cash and kind may be made by the promoters up to a maximum
of value of £400 in respect of all the games played at any given
entertainment. If a series of entertainments are held at the same
premises on the same day the overall limits of both charges and prizes
remain the same, but where a second or subsequent entertainment of a
series is held on a day or days following the first entertainment a
charge of up to £4 can be made at each entertainment in the series
and, similarly prizes or awards of up to £400 can be distributed at
each entertainment in the series.
If the series of entertainments is so organised that only players who
have played in at least one earlier entertainment in the series, held
on a different day, are entitled to take part in the final
entertainment, then, for the final entertainment, prizes or awards of
up to £700 can be distributed. (Source: Department for Culture, Media
and Sport.)
http://www.culture.gov.uk/gambling_and_racing/fact_sheets/poker.htm
-------------------------------------------------
The current law and proposed changes.
Gaming (Amendment) Act 1990 (c.26). (Source: Her Majesty?s Stationery Office.)
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900026_en_1.htm
Gaming law is currently being changed. The progress of the proposed
changes can be seen here on the Houses of Parliament site.
http://bills.ais.co.uk/DH.asp?title=d
A Draft of the new gambling bill can be seen here.
Once the bill is enacted the duties of the Gaming Board will transfer
to the Gambling Commission. (Source: Department for Culture, Media and
Sport.)
http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E201EA2C-9A32-4493-BFC5-9E44DB528C23/0/26444GambBillDraft.pdf
Gambling bill fact sheets, providing information about the gambling
bill and its implications are available here. (Source: Department for
Culture, Media and Sport.)
http://www.culture.gov.uk/gambling_and_racing/gambling_bill/default.htm>
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