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Codes of Practice for licensing authorities.
Published: 24 January 2021
Last updated: 1 November 2021
This version was printed or saved on: 1 May 2025
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/authorities/guide/codes-of-practice
Overview: In order to help you determine premises applications and when inspecting premises we have brought together all the gambling codes of practice in one place.
This contains the associated codes of practice as provided within Part 2 of the Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP).
The codes specify a number of requirements related to social responsibility issues and these may be of particular interest where you are concerned about, for example, protection of the young and vulnerable.
The codes also apply to situations in which gambling is being offered without an operator’s licence from the Gambling Commission. For example, equal chance gaming and gaming machines in clubs and premises with an alcohol licence (see sections B and C).
Code of practice for equal chance gaming in clubs and premises with an alcohol licence
Code of practice for gaming machines in clubs and premises with an alcohol licence
1 . This is the Commission’s code of practice relating to the provision of facilities for equal chance gaming in pubs and clubs, last updated March 2012. It is issued in accordance with section 24 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab) (the Act) and in respect of gaming carried out under Part 12 of the Act and the associated regulations. This gaming is known as ‘exempt gaming’, and may be carried out without a gambling licence or permit. However, the club or alcohol licensed premises can only offer equal chance gaming that does not involve staking against a bank and where there are set daily and weekly prize limits. Where a club holds a club gaming permit additional entitlements are available.
Code provision 1.1
Code provision 1.2
Code provision 1.3
Code provision 1.4
Code provision 1.5
Code provision 1.6
Code provision 1.7
Code provision 1.8
Code provision 1.9
Code provision 1.10
Code provision 2.1
Code provision 3.1
Code provision 4.1
Code provision 5.1
Code provision 5.2
Code provision 5.3
Members’ club, commercial club or MW institute without a club gaming permit or club machine permit | Members’ club or commercial club with club machine permit | Members’ club or MW institute with club gaming permit | Bridge or whist club | Alcohol licensed premises | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equal chance gaming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bridge and or whist only | Yes |
Limits on stakes | Poker £1,000 per week £250 per day £10 per person per game Other gaming No limit | Poker £1,000 per week £250 per day £10 per person per game Other gaming No limit | No limit | No limit | Poker £100 per premises per day £5 per person per game Other gaming £5 per person per game Cribbage & dominoes No limit |
Limits on prizes | Poker £1,000 per game Other gaming No limit | Poker £250 per game Other gaming No limit | No limit | No limit | Poker £100 per game Other gaming No limit |
Maximum participation fees – per person per day | Bridge and or Whist1 £18 Other gaming £1 | Bridge and or Whist £18 Other gaming £3 (commercial club) £1 (members’ club) | Bridge and or Whist £18 Other gaming £3 | £18 (without club gaming permit) £20 (with club gaming permit) | None permitted |
Bankers or unequal chance gaming | None permitted | None permitted | Pontoon Chemin de fer | None permitted | None permitted |
Limits on bingo | Maximum of £2,000 per week in stakes and or prizes. If more then will need an operating licence. | Maximum of £2,000 per week in stakes and or prizes. If more then will need an operating licence. | Maximum of £2,000 per week in stakes and or prizes. If more then will need an operating licence. | No bingo permitted | Maximum of £2,000 per week in stakes and or prizes. If more then will need an operating licence. |
1 On a day when no other facilities for gaming are provided
This is the Commission’s Code of Practice issued under section 24 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab) (the Act) relating to provision of facilities for gaming machine gambling in accordance with club gaming, club machine and alcohol licensed premises permits.
This includes:
Code provision 1.1
All permit holders
Compliance with these provisions is a condition of your permit, and failure to do so could result in revocation of the permit.2
Code provision 2.1
Compliance with this section is not a condition of your permit. However it sets out good practice in this area and the Commission considers it should be implemented by permit holders.
Code provision 3.1
Code provision 3.2
Compliance with this section is not a condition of your permit. However it sets out good practice in this area and the Commission considers it should be implemented by permit holders.
Code provision 4.1
2 Compliance with these provisions is a condition of the relevant permit as a result of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab): section 271 for Club Gaming Permits, section 273 for Club Machine Permits, section 282 for alcohol licensed premises using their automatic machine permissions and section 283 for licensed premises Gaming Machine Permits and alcohol licensed premises Gaming Machine Permits.