I met with the Gaming Board inspector today. Nick came with me and we met at the premises and went for a drink across the road, after a tour of the premises. The meeting lasted about 2.5 hours.
It was mostly good news with a bit of no so good news. Breakdown below:
Good News
1. He said he can see NO REASON why I will not get a licence. In fact, I asked asked him the odds, and he told me 100% for the Gaming Board Consent, and although he could not speak for the Magistrates Court, he said "he could see no reason why and would be shocked if I got turned down"
2. ONLY Gaming staff working in my club (dealers, supervisors, cashiers and card room managers) will be prohibited from visiting other UK casinos. That means someone working in marketing or doing poker lessons, for example, will not be prohibited from playing poker elsewhere - or even in the our club. Basically, anyone who does not hold a "gaming licence" can play poker elsewhere or in the club.
3. He thought the premises were IDEAL for the purpose.
4. My General Manager would NOT need a "White Licence" as in a normal casino, as the Card Room Managers will be making the gaming decisions.
5. In 2007, there may be NEW rules for poker clubs, rather than them coming under the casino regulations.
6. Employees of other casinos CAN play poker in my club as long as they have PERMISSION from their employer (I guess this will be hard to get?)
7. We will be able to discuss ONLINE payments into tourneys with the Gaming Board, they will be open to debate and will try to be practical.
8. Timescale from application to granting of full licence should be less that 6 MONTHS (instead of 12 months as originally advised)
9. I CAN put forward my Card Room managers for Grey licences - cost £300 per person
10. He thinks objections will be WEAK from other casinos as there main income is not derived from poker, they need to prove "significant loss", which they cannot. The courts are unlikely to be sympathetic to any objections.
Not so good news
1. I NEED a Grey Licence holder on site for all of the gaming hours.
2. I need to employ a "compliance officer" to ensure all regulations are being carried out in the club -extra COST.
3. He thinks there is a good chance that I will NOT be able to play poker in the club, but he is open to discuss this further as poker is not a "house" game.
4. There may be internet legislation coming into place to prevent people playing "OFFSHORE" internet gambling or poker sites in a casino. This would mean that people could not play Partypoker for example (or most of the rest). Even if the "skin" is based in the UK. Apparently there is a huge enquiry going on into this.
5. There are serious RESTICTIONS on advertising the club in public places.
6. Gaming hours are stict, if a comp does not finish by 6am we CANNOT continue
Overall, a good meeting. Another small step further in the plan.
