Poker in pubs - legal ?

Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
41,970
Location
Notts
with the explosion of interest in poker ( specifically texas hold 'em ) many pubs around here are now holding regular tournaments

and example would be where a fee of £12.50 is payable ( £10 to the prize fund and £2.50 to the pub )

while personally I don;t see a problem with consenting adults gambling for a few quid (as long as the stakes don't get daft ) , does anyone know if this is actually legal ?

as I understood it licensing laws allowed certain games ( poker not being one of them ) to be played for small stakes , did this change with the recent new licensing laws ?
 
I remember playing poker in a pub whilst taking part in a spot of underage drinking. The landlord came over and asked us to keep our cars under the table, but said nothing about the underage nature of those present.

So yes, I was under the same impression as you.
 
Theres a group of guys that play down in our local. Its pretty shocking sometimes actually, on a couple of occasions I've seen a stake of a couple of hundred quid at least on a hand. Still, I imagine if you play regularly it'll normally average out.

As for legality, I'm not sure but dont think its legit. Not worth making a fuss over though tbh. I imagine google could tell you easily enough
 
Don't quote me on this but I think it's illegal. Though saying that I think most pubs have those touch-screen game machines with gambling on them, or fruities. Whether those machines are exempt, or have different rules I'm not too sure..
 
Gambling for a prize does require a licence Rotty and a normal pub with poker being played could cause trouble for the licencee.

If poker is to be specifically played then an appropriate gambling licence is required. Antiquated, boring and cack as it may be.
 
Hehe, reminds me of a time I came late to a work do, turned up, they'd decided to play a bit of Hold'em, I ended up having a flush, and the 2 or 3 drunkards all thought they had winning hands and kept betting and betting... ended up winning over £20, not very much, but I pretty much went home on a profit, and was suprised the management of the Wethersppons we were in didn't kick us out or at least ask us to stop playing.
 
Von Smallhausen said:
Gambling for a prize does require a licence Rotty and a normal pub with poker being played could cause trouble for the licencee.

If poker is to be specifically played then an appropriate gambling licence is required. Antiquated, boring and cack as it may be.

In this case though, it isnt gambling for a prize, it is paying entry to a tournament (which doesnt require a licence, does it?).

Afaik, tournaments arent considered gambling (even if you pay to enter) so are outside of the restrictions.

At least, thats how Will Hill / Titan Poker / Betfred put it to my SU when we formed the Poker Society :)
 
Von Smallhausen said:
Gambling for a prize does require a licence Rotty and a normal pub with poker being played could cause trouble for the licencee.

.


thats how I see it but they do use a back room which may technically be off licemced premises

either way I dont suppose it is the players problem if the plod turn up
 
DRZ said:
In this case though, it isnt gambling for a prize, it is paying entry to a tournament (which doesnt require a licence, does it?).

Afaik, tournaments arent considered gambling (even if you pay to enter) so are outside of the restrictions.

At least, thats how Will Hill / Titan Poker / Betfred put it to my SU when we formed the Poker Society :)

maybe thats how they get round it
 
Rotty said:
thats how I see it but they do use a back room which may technically be off licemced premises

either way I dont suppose it is the players problem if the plod turn up

I don't think it is a way to get round it Rotty from a legal point of view, I would say it's out of sight and hopefully out of mind and you take your risk as does the manager.

As for the plod .... it's unlikely if discression is used. :)
 
I was told by my manager that all places where betting (even if it is a small amount) needs a licence.

We have been stopped a few times for it while playing with matches.

But some will allow matches if you exchange money out side etc.

As in all playing put 5 quid in for so many matches and play to win.

KaHn
 
Yeah it's illegal no matter how you look at it. Gambling license ~£50k iirc. I play in a pub sometimes on a Friday and do quite well out of it so I don't mind ;)

Just back from the casino, 2nd place tonight - £180. My 10s ran into Qs heads up, grrr :(
 
Back
Top Bottom