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Club gaming and club machine permits

If you run a members'  or commercial club and you want to provide your club members access to:

  • gaming machines
  • games of chance 
  • equal chance games 

you need either a club gaming or a club machine permit. 

Club gaming permit

You can apply for a club gaming permit if you want to have one or more of the games already listed on this page in a social club or miner’s welfare institution. 

With this permit you can have up to three category B3A, B4, C or D machines (to include a maximum of 1 B3A machine) and prize gaming. 

Club machine permit

You can apply for a club machine permit if you want to have gaming machines in a social club, miner’s welfare institution or a commercial club. 

With this permit a member’s club can have up to three category B3A, B4, C or D machines (to include a maximum of 1 B3A machine). A commercial club can have up to three category B4, C or D machines (but no B3A). 

Club gaming permits are available to members’ clubs or miners’ welfare institutes. They are not available to commercial clubs. 

Club machine permits are available to members’ clubs, miners’ welfare institutes and commercial clubs. 

Policy

Please read our statement of principles before you apply. 

Fees

Details of the fees related to this licence can be found in our fees and charges booklet. 

How to apply

To be eligible for a club gaming or club machine permit, clubs must: 

  • have at least 25 members 
  • be controlled by club members 
  • not be established to make a profit 

Commercial clubs must also have at least 25 members and be controlled by club members. However, commercial clubs can be established to make a profit. 

You must provide the following details as part of your application: 

  • application fee 
  • type of club you operate 

Please contact us via email for an application form. You will also need to return it to us via email. 

After you've applied

Consultation

Once we receive your application, we will consult with the following: 

  • Avon and Somerset police 
  • The Gambling Commission 

They will have 28 days to make any objections to your application. 

If we receive no objections, we will grant your permit once the consultation period ends. If we do receive an objection, we will hold a hearing to decide whether to refuse or grant a permit. 

How long the permit is valid for

We grant gaming machine permits for 10 years, unless we state otherwise. 

You will need to pay an annual fee prior to the anniversary of the issue date of your permit if you would like to keep it.