Unequal games of chance

Long-standing rivalry between pubs and clubs still continues, even though clubs seem to have come off worst in the general licensing reforms. Gradually, the so-called "advantages" have been whittled away to the extent that clubs are as much involved in the licensing process as pubs and even have to contend with some police supervision.

Now some sectors of the trade are challenging the differential between pubs and clubs on the matter of gambling. In its response to Government proposals on small-stake gaming, the industry has said that the suggested stakes and prizes should be evened out, rather than clubs having higher limits for equal-chance gaming.

One of the prevailing arguments is that clubs have virtually become licensed premises

anyway, so they should not enjoy any advantage over the pub trade.

I do not think the Government is going to be persuaded on this issue at the moment. There is still a strong club lobby in Parliament, combined with the policy position that private clubs, being for the benefit of members, should have preferential treatment when it comes to members' own money. Until the advent of the new law, clubs were virtually free of constraints on equal-chance gaming anyway, and the proposal as it stands represents yet another curtailment of their rights.

This issue has arisen mainly because of poker's surge of popularity. The new law will allow this to be played legally in pubs, but for strictly controlled stakes and on a completely equal-chance basis, so that the licensee has no commercial involvement. The law will certainly be more relaxed about the kind of games permitted, which in the past have been very strictly controlled. Neither poker nor bingo would have been entertained by licensing justices as appropriate games for pubs anyway.

Unlike gaming machines, where any lobbying for improvements is mostly in the commercial interests of the operator rather than the public, equal-chance gaming is entirely for the customer's benefit. The only spin-off for those running pubs is in the extra footfall generated by yet another social attraction.

The consultation is due to end shortly on regulations laid for pubs and clubs. It would be surprising, given the cautious approach of the consultation document itself, if further concessions were allowed at this late stage.