Gaming machine permits for alcohol licensed premises
Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit
Under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) a Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit applies to a premises with gaming machines which also has a Licensing Act 2003 on-premises alcohol licence, and serves alcohol without the requirement that it accompanies food. A pub, restaurant or hotel with a bar will be eligible to apply for this type of permit, but hotels and restaurants that serve alcohol only with food will not be able to have gaming machines.
We may issue Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permits for any number of Category C or D machines in licensed premises. Once you have the permit, you will not need to apply again, unless your circumstances change but an annual fee will need to be paid.
Premises with an on premises alcohol licence will have an automatic entitlement to two gaming machines, subject to a simple notification procedure. Please see machine notification page for further information.
Permit holders are required to comply with the Gambling Commission gaming machine permits codes of practice. Compliance with these provisions is a condition of the Permit, and failure to do so could result in revocation of the Permit.
Annual fees
The first annual fee will be required 30 days after the initial grant date of the permit.
Failure to pay the annual fee may result in cancellation of the permit and any future applications will be as a new operator.
Transitional arrangements
Any existing permit will continue to have effect after 1 September 2007 as though it were a Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit issued under the Act. If you have made no transfer then your Section 34 permit will expire on the date on which your current permit is due to expire or 31 August 2010, whichever is sooner.
For permits expiring after 1 September 2007, the following arrangements will apply:
- up to two gaming machines - pubs will have an automatic entitlement to two gaming machines, subject to a simple machine notification procedure. You should make this notification to us prior to the expiry of your existing Permit
- more than two gaming machines - pubs which want to offer more than two gaming machines will need to apply to us for a Licensed Premises Gaming Permit. You should apply at least two months before the date on which your existing Gambling Act 1968 Section 34 Permit is due to expire.
Transfer of the Premises Licence Holder under the Licensing Act
If at any time you change the premises licence holder at the premises you will also need to apply for a notification for the gaming machines or transfer an existing permit if in place.
The procedure will vary depending on the number of machines you wish to offer.
If the previous owners have already applied and have got a licensed premises gaming machine permit you will need to put in for a transfer of that permit.
Variation applications
If at any time the holder of the alcohol licensed gaming machine permit wants to increase the number of gaming machines on an existing permit then a variation application can be made.
Important notes
Licensees sometimes confuse the permit issued by the Council with the HM Revenue and Customs permit issued for Gaming Machines. You are required to hold both a current permit issued by Customs and a permit issued by Plymouth City Council. Failure to hold both may result in prosecution and/or seizures of the machines.
The machines can only be used when the timings on the Premises Licence issued under the Licensing Act 2003, allow alcohol to be sold.
Making sure Gaming Machines are fair and open
All machine manufactures and suppliers must comply with the Commission's Technical Standards.
As part of those standards:
- machines must display information about help available to problem gamblers
- customers will only be able to play one game at a time and the speed of play on any game will be restricted
- manufacturers must not make machines (other than category D machines) specifically attractive to children and young people
- gaming machines must display information on the machine, including the nature of the machine, stake and prize levels and percentage return to the player
- in the case of a dispute between the operator and a customer, gaming machines must allow the operator to track the history of previous games played on the machine
- gaming machines will be required to undergo certain tests to ensure that they are fair and open before they are put on the market. The nature of these tests will vary according to the category of the machine.
Related documents
For further information on fees and guidance documents in relation to gaming machines and the categories for gaming machines please see the guidance documents page.
Application forms
Please see the application forms page for a list of all the application forms required under the Gambling Act 2003.