License guide for Pub Fruit Machine

Do you need a license to operate a Fruit Machine in your Pub or Club?

Don’t forget that there are some conditions in which you don’t actually need a gaming machine (fruit machine, slot machine) operational licence.

Prize gaming machines

You do not need any kind of approval to run gaming machines that do not offer a prize at all, or do not offer a prize worth more than the price you pay to play the machine.

You may submit an application to your local permitting authority for a prize gaming permit, which will let you offer bingo prize betting machines.

Fruit machine, and slot machines at home

You can obviously own gaming machines for your own personal use, as long as you are the sole person who operates them.

Pubs

Your alcohol licence gives authorisation to run two pieces of either category C or category D gaming equipment (fruit machines, slot machines). However, to allow this permission you will need to notify your resident authority that you mean to operate equipment under your alcohol licence. A fee may be payable.

If a person stops being the holder of an on-premises liquor licence, the authorisation to place the two gaming machines also ends. Therefore, anybody applying for a new location’s alcohol licence will need to notify the licensing authority of their intent to make fruit machines available for use, and pay the fee once again. This replenishment is only needed where there is a change in the alcohol premises licence holder, and not where there is simply a variation in tenant or chosen premises manager.

Premises liquor licence proprietors who want to run extra category C or category D fruit machines must also apply, in advance of the machines being available, to their local licensing power for a permit. Fees will also apply here too.

Clubs

You may request a club gaming or club fruit machine permit from your local licensing authority. These permits let you to run up to three fruit machines from category B3A and below.

Fairs and travelling circuses

You can allow people to play category D and prize fruit machines at travelling fairs, as long as the fair is mainly make up of attractions that do not encompass gambling.

Unlicensed family entertainment centers

If you are operating a family entertaining centre under a permit from your resident licensing authority, you can run category D machines and bingo prize betting machines.