HC Deb 21 November 1969 vol 791 cc381-3W
Mr. Wellbeloved

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations he proposes to make under the Gaming Act regarding the games, charges and hours in licensed gaming clubs; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Callaghan

In accordance with recommendations made by the Gaming Board, and with the agreement of the Secretary of State for Scotland, I have decided to make regulations to the following effect.

Regulations under Section 13 will authorise the following banker's games subject to specified conditions:

  • Roulette.
  • Craps.
  • Blackjack.
  • Baccarat.
  • Punto Banco.
  • Chemin de fer.

The conditions will be that in the first five games the house will be required to hold the bank and in the case of chemin de fer it will be forbidden to do so; roulette will be permitted with a single zero; and the normal rules of craps and blackjack will be modified where these allow an excessive advantage to the bank.

Regulations under Section 14 will authorise charges unlimited in amount related to a period of not less than one hour in respect of equal -chance games, other than bingo, between members of a club. In the case of chemin de fer, charges will be related to the playing of a "shoe" of six standard packs of cards.

In respect of bingo clubs, charges will be authorised for admission and for participation in the bingo, on condition that in the aggregate they do not exceed ten shillings for a session, and that no more than three separate charges are made for card bingo during a session. Sessions may not be repeated more frequently than every two hours. This maximum will not include gaming for prizes in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the Act.

Subject to any additional restrictions which the licensing justices may impose, in England and Wales clubs licensed for general gaming will be allowed to open on weekdays between 2 p.m. and 4 a.m.—on Sundays 3 a.m. in Inner London and 2 a.m. elsewhere—and bingo clubs will be allowed to open between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m.—12 midnight on Saturdays. In Scotland the hours will be the same, except that on Sundays no club will be allowed to open between the hours of 2 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.