Club activities

1. SPONSORSHIP AND CHARITY FUNCTIONS

It is permissible to sponsor sporting, cultural and social events both actively and by way of programme support. It is also permissible for licence holders to support charity functions by, for example, purchasing a block of tickets for a banquet or by purchasing 'advertising' space in the printed programme of an event. In all such cases Guideline 6 on Advertising must be observed.

2. EXCURSIONS/TRIPS

Outside trips for casino members and guests are permissible. The provision of a dedicated area, such as a marquee, a box or group of banqueting tables, is acceptable and licence holders may use the casino or casino group name provided no reference is made to the specific address of the casino.

3. OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVES

Members of the Industry may employ representatives to promote their business provided any fee or other remuneration paid to the representative is not
directly related to the wins or losses of customers introduced.  Representatives,
whether based in the UK or overseas, are precluded from being members of any
casino owned by the licence holding company which they represent, thus prohibiting
them from signing-in prospective players.

Details of such contracts and representatives should be reported to The Gaming Board.

4. TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

The payment of travel or hotel bills or the subsidised provision of travel and accommodation costs in order to bring members, prospective members or their
guests to the casino to game is not permitted.  This does not however prevent a casino from providing reasonable transport (such as a courtesy car or taxi) to convey a member and guests to and from the casino.

A casino may pay travel and accommodation costs in so far as they relate to excursions or trips under paragraph 2, prizes in free draws under paragraph 5, and social and cultural events under paragraph 6c).

5.  FREE DRAWS

“Free draws, for prizes other than cash, may be held for the participation of members and guests of casinos acting independently or in concert with other casinos.

Where a number of casinos jointly hold a free draw, clear conditions must be included in the draw rules describing how, when, and where the winning tickets will be drawn.

These rules must be made available to all participating casinos’, members and guests to whom in due course, a list of winners must also be made available on request at all participating casinos.

At the request of a prize winner and with the agreement of the relevant casino(s), cash may be given in substitution for any prize awarded provided that the cash prize so given is less than the market value to the casino of the prize originally offered.
 
No single casino shall contribute more than £50,000 in any calendar year towards the provision of free draw prizes.  The contribution to a draw will be deemed to be made on the day the draw takes place and based on the market value of the prize.

Records relating to free draws must be retained and held available for inspection by the Gaming Board for a period of 1 year from the date of the draw.”

Cash prizes may not be advertised but a lesser sum may be paid in cash to an eventual winner on request and with the agreement of the casino.

6.  GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY

a) Gifts

Gifts of small value are permissible on a general basis to members. Examples are diaries and pens. More expensive gifts to particularly valued members are also permissible. A record of gifts which exceed £1,000 retail value will be kept. In this context "gifts" will include the payment of permitted travel and accommodation as well as tangible items or services.

b) Free Gaming Chips and Lucky Money

The giving of free gaming chips is not permitted, nor is it permitted to give "lucky" money in the Chinese New Year or on other such occasions.

c) Hospitality

It is permissible to provide complimentary casino facilities to members and their guests, whether on or off the premises. It is also an acceptable practice to organise and provide, without charge, sporting, cultural and social events for existing members and guests outside the casino.
 
d) Occasional Gifts to Gaming Staff

Gratuities from players to staff in respect of gaming are unlawful. However, occasional non-monetary gifts, sometimes given by club members to mark events such as a marriage or birth, are not. Where a genuine gift is accepted by a member of the gaming staff, it is incumbent upon him/her to inform a superior so that the matter can be recorded by the casino and be open to inspection if need arises.

7. CONTACTS WITH BOOKMAKERS

The provision of television sets to show programmes and information services is allowable, including SIS, save that no direct or dedicated telephone lines to bookmakers may be provided.  There is no objection to preset buttons on telephones available to customers in the casino being programmed to bookmakers’ telephone numbers and being identified as such provided that the bookmaker makes no payment or other inducements for its provision.  The provision of screens or monitors giving odds, results etc of the type to be found in bookmakers’ premises is not permissible.

8. LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE ON COMPLIMENTARY ACTIVITIES

Expenditure on hospitality, gifts and excursions/trips for individual members should be kept to a reasonable level, and must not be disproportionate to the business the player has brought to the casino.

Information source: Gaming Board of Great Britain

last updated: September 2003