Gaming permits for alcohol licensed premises


When an alcohol-licensed premises such a public house is granted a premises licence it is also automatically entitled to have up to two gaming machines of category C or D.

To make use of this entitlement, licence holders must give us notice of the gaming machines by submitting the correct form and fee:

Gaming machines
Machine category Maximum stake Maximum prize
C £1 £100
D: non-money prize (other than a crane grab machine) 30p £8
D: non-money prize (crane grab machine) £1 £50
D: money prize 10p £5
D: combined money and non-money prize (other than a coin pusher or penny falls machine) 10p £8 (of which no more than £5 may be a money prize)
D: combined money and non-money prize (coin pusher or penny fall machine) 20p £20 (of which no more than £10 may be a money prize)

Gaming machine permits

We may also issue licensed premises with a gaming machine permit for any number of category C or D machines.

A gaming machine permit authorises the number of machines specified in the application, and effectively replaces the automatic entitlement of up to two machines.

You may apply for this permit using the correct form, accompanied by the correct form and fee:

Other gaming in alcohol licensed premises

Other gaming is allowed in alcohol-licensed premises (excluding clubs), according to the following information:

Equal-chance gaming is permitted, but maximum participation fees (per person per day) and bankers or unequal-chance gaming are not permitted.

Stakes are limited to:

  • Poker: £100 per premises per day
  • Cribbage and dominoes: no limit
  • Bingo: £2,000 per week without an operating licence
  • Other gaming: £5 per person per game

Prizes are limited to:

  • Poker: £100 per game
  • Bingo: £2,000 per week without an operating licence
  • Other gaming: no limit

Other useful information

The Gambling Commission provides further information about gambling in alcohol-licensed premises.

See also: Small society lotteries

Is this page helpful?

Website feedback form
Website feedback form

For questions about a service we provide, please use our contact us form

For feedback on our new website, please use our website improvements form

Was this page helpful? (required)
Website feedback form
Tell us why (required)
Website feedback form
Tell us why (required)
Website feedback form
Prove you are a human (required)