Licensed premises gaming machine notifications
Certain premises subject to licences allowing the supply of alcohol, are allowed to make one or two gaming machines available for use within their premises. To do this, the licence holder needs to notify us beforehand.
The automatic entitlement is only available to licensed premises that satisfy all of the following requirements:
- The premises is licensed to supply alcohol, for consumption on those premises.
- The premises contains a bar.
- The premises is not subject to any licence conditions limiting the supply of alcohol to people having meals on the premises.
Gaming machines are categorised according to how much they cost to use and the maximum prize available.
The automatic entitlement allows a maximum of two gaming machines from categories C and D to be available for use. Please see our information sheet for details of the maximum charges and prizes applicable to these categories.
If you intend to provide three or more gaming machines at a premises, you must obtain a licensed premises gaming machine permit instead.
Premises providing gaming machines must ensure that they comply with the Gambling Commission's Code of Practice for clubs and licensed premises.
Download and complete
Notifications can only be given by the holder of the premises licence for the premises to which the notification relates.
Licensed premises gaming machine notification form (PDF, 294KB)
Applicants should read the 'licensed premises gaming machine permits and notifications' section of our Statement of Principles for further information on our expectations of notified premises.
Please send the completed application form to us, together with a payment of £50. Our address is on the form.
If the form has been completed correctly, we will acknowledge receipt of the notification. The holder of the premises licence may then make up to two gaming machines available within the licensed premises until such time as they cease to hold the alcohol licence.
Notifications are subject to a statutory condition, requiring that the holder complies with the Gambling Commission's Code of Practice for clubs and licensed premises.
Continuation of the automatic entitlement
The notification is valid for as long as the notifier continues to hold the premises licence for the venue. It will only lapse if the alcohol licence is transferred to another person, or if the alcohol licence itself lapses.
The notification will also cease to have effect if the alcohol licence is changed to the point where the premises no longer qualifies for the automatic entitlement. An example of this is if a condition is added to the licence, limiting alcohol sales to people taking meals only.
Notifications are not transferable. Any new occupier of the premises who wishes to continue providing gaming machines will need to give a new notification in their own name.
We may revoke the automatic entitlement for a particular premises if we believe that:
- gaming has taken place on the premises, in breach of the code of practice or other statutory requirements
- the premises is mainly used for gaming
- the continued allowance of the provision of gaming machines is not consistent with the licensing objectives
- a gambling-related offence has been committed on the premises.