Q&A: Transferring gaming machines
- Date: 14/06/2012
- Source: Poppleston Allen
- Author/Solicitor: Nick Arron
Q. I have just recently taken over my first pub and transferred the Premises Licence into my name. There are two gaming machines at the premises. Do I need to transfer the permissions for these two machines into my name?
A. The previous Premises Licence Holder will not have had a licence, permit or permission for the machines. They will have written to the Local Authority to notify them that they will be making the two gaming machines available for use and pay £50. Because you have transferred the Premises Licence into your name, you need to do the same and write to the Local Authority telling them you will be operating the two machines and paying them £50. You need to be aware of the Code of Practice which applies to the location of gaming machines in pubs. They must be located where they can be supervised and they must be located so that someone who wishes to take cash from an ATM they must stop gambling to do so. Or in other words you should not put a cash machine next to a gaming machine. There should be enough distance between the gaming machine and the cash machine so that someone on the gaming machine must stop playing to take cash from the ATM.
These are extracts from the Publican's Morning advertiser, the leading magazine for the UK's pub trade.
See www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Opinion/Jonathan-Smith
