Service Description: In accordance with the Gaming Act 1967 and the Lotteries and Amusement Act 1976 any prospective occupiers of amusement parks, arcades and other premises where gaming machines or amusements with prizes will be provided, must first obtain a permit issued by the local authority. The precise permit required depends on the maximum prize value.
Also known as:- Amusements with Prizes, Fruit Machines
Answer: Under the new Act clubs can offer bingo and other equal chance gaming without a permit or a licence provided that: the club abides by limits to be set in regulations for the amounts which may be deducted from sums staked or won (unless a club gaming permit is held); the participation fee is no more than the regulations allow (expected to be £1 per person per day, or £3 where a club gaming permit is held); games are held on the premises; games are not linked with games held on other premises; games are only open to club members and guests (unless your club is a commercial club); and/or the total stakes or prizes for bingo games played in any seven day period does not exceed £2,000 more than once in 12 months. You will need to apply for a bingo operating licence if you operate bingo on your club premises with total stakes or prizes that go above £2,000 a week and you plan to do so again at any time during the following twelve months. After the first week of high turnover bingo the club will commit an offence if high turnover bingo is played again in the following twelve months, unless a bingo operating licence has been obtained. If your total stakes or prizes for bingo reach £2,000 in any seven day period without an operating licence you must notify the Gambling Commission. Provided conditions outlined in the new Act are complied with you do not need a premises licence.