Three members clubs hit as clampdown on unlawful poker continues

Three more members’ clubs have been forced to stop providing poker following investigations led by local authorities and supported by the Gambling Commission.

The affected clubs were:

  • The Fifth Street Card Club in Borehamwood, which had its club gaming permit withdrawn. The Commission said the club was “unable to demonstrate it was being run in ‘good faith’ in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003”;
  • The Royal Surrey Social Club in Morden, Surrey, which has stopped its poker activities. Officers from the local authority had found that poker was being played illegally in exceeding prescribed limits.
  • Palms of Enfield, which saw a new application rejected by the local council. This was on a number of grounds including concerns about illegal poker, but might be subject to an appeal, the Commission said.

The Gambling Commission said ten clubs had been either forced to close down or stop playing poker since July 2012.

This was when the International Private Members Club withdrew an appeal at Thames Magistrates’ Court against a decision by the licensing sub-committee at Hackney Council to withdraw its club premises certificate and cancel the associated gaming permit.

The Gambling Commission also reported that in other areas licensing authorities were starting to refuse gaming permits due to concerns that applicants were suspected of intending to run illegal poker clubs.

Nick Tofiluk, the Commission’s Director of Regulatory Operations, said: “These ten cases show local authorities have the means and the determination to tackle concerns about illegal poker in whatever guise it is presented.

“We are committed to working closely in support of local authorities in dealing with such matters. LAs now have considerable experience in this field and we will continue to promote good practice while dealing effectively with illegal poker clubs.”