Gaming machines in licensed premises

How to submit your application:

To submit any application found below, please e-mail the application form and any required supporting documentation to licensing@reading.gov.uk and pay the relevant fee.

Two or fewer gaming machines

If you have a premises licence (under the Licensing Act 2003), you have an automatic entitlement to place up to two machines in that premises once you have applied to us and met the following criteria:

• the premises are licensed to supply alcohol
• the premises contains a bar
• the premises licence does not have restrictions limiting the supply of alcohol to customer having meals

The machines must be from either Category C or D and the permit will only be issued to the holder of the premises licence. If the licence lapses or is transferred then the new licence holder will have to apply for a new notification.

The gaming machines can only be played during the hours specified on the premises licence and not during any temporary extensions of the premises licence.

Applying

Complete the notification form and pay the fee of £50.

There is no annual fee.

Further information on Gambling Commission website.

More than two gaming machines

If you hold a premises licence (under the Licensing Act 2003) you can apply for the premises to have more than two gaming machines. The machines must be either Category C or D.

Applying

Complete a gaming machine permit application and pay the fee of £150.

If the permit is granted then an annual fee of £50 is payable within 30 days of the permit being issued and every year on the same date. The permit will be revoked if the annual fee is not paid.

The permit must be kept on the premises and produced if requested by an authorised officer of Reading Borough Council, Thames Valley Police or the Gambling Commission.

If the holder of the premises licence changes then the new premises holder must apply for a transfer of the gaming machine permit, using the normal application form. The transfer fee is £25. There is also a fee of £25 if the permit is lost or stolen.

If the holder of the premises licence wants to vary the permit they will have to complete the above form and pay a fee of £100.

Club gaming permits

These permits allow non-commercial members’ clubs and miners’ welfare institutes to have up to three gaming machines. The machines must be from Category B3A, B4, C or D (only one can be from Category B3A).

The permit also allows for equal chance gaming (for example, poker) and for games of chance such as pontoon. Commercial clubs cannot apply for this permit, however they can apply for a club machine permit.

Applying

Complete the club gaming application form and pay the £200 fee (£100 if applying via the fast track procedure).

If the permit is granted then an annual fee of £50 is payable within 30 days of the permit being issued and every year on the same date. The permit will be revoked if the annual fee is not paid.

Club Machine Permits

These permits allow any members club, including commercial clubs, to have up to three gaming machines. The machines must be from Category B3A, B4, C or D (only one can be from Category B3A and must be sited in a non-commercial members club).

Club Gaming and Club Machine Permits are non-transferable and valid for ten years. If lost, a fee of £25 is payable.

These permits will be withdrawn if the premises ceases to be a club.

Applying

Complete the club machine application form and pay the £200 fee (£100 if applying via the fast track procedure)..

If the permit is granted then the annual fee of £50 is payable within 30 days of the permit being issued and every year on that date. The permit will be revoked if the annual fee is not paid.

Fast track procedure – For holders of a club premises certificate only

Where the applicant is already the holder of a club premises certificate issued under the Licensing Act 2003, they can use the fast track procedure.

This means that there is no requirement to send a copy of the application to the police or Gambling Commission – and so no one can object.

The licensing authority shall grant the permit unless they think:

• That the applicant is established and conducted wholly or mainly for the purposes of the provision of facilities for gambling, other than gambling of a prescribed kind
• That the applicant is established or conducted wholly or mainly for the purposes of the provision of facilities for gaming of a prescribed kind and also provides facilities for gaming of another kind, or
• That a club gaming permit or club machine permit issued to the applicant has been cancelled during the period of ten years ending with the date of the application

A permit issued under the fast track procedure is not time limited, however permit issued under the fast track procedure may cease to have effect if surrendered, cancelled, or forfeited. It will lapse if the club premises certificate on which the application relied ceases to have effect.

Maintenance – applies to all permits listed above

Pay an annual fee.

The holder of a permit shall keep it on the premises to which it relates.

An occupier of premises to which a permit relates commits an offence if without reasonable excuse he fails to produce the permit on request for inspection by a constable or an enforcement officer.

Club Gaming and Club Machine Permits are non-transferable and valid for ten years (fast-track permits are not time limited). If lost, a fee of £25 is payable.

These permits will be withdrawn if the premises ceases to be a club.

Further information on the licensing of gaming machines in licensed premises can be found on the Gambling Commission website.