Apply for a Gaming Permit

Gaming is when you play a game – involving skill or chance – in which you pay a stake for a chance to win a prize of up to €3,000.

The types of gaming likely involved would include, for example:

• pool and snooker tournaments
• darts competitions
• card games
• pub quizzes

Gaming rules

Gaming permits are not granted:

• for any kind of gaming in which because of the nature of the game, the chances of all the players, including the banker, are not equal
• to promote gaming for charitable or philanthropic purposes on the same day and in the same place where gaming is also being promoted for the promoter’s own benefit
• to promote gaming by means of a gaming machine such as slot machines as this requires a separate licence application

Stake limits

The stake amount for each game promoted under a Gaming Permit may not cost more than €10.

Prize limits

The total prize amount for each game promoted under a Gaming Permit must not exceed €3,000.

The application for a Gaming Permit must be made to a Garda Superintendent for the district in which the premises where the gaming is to take place is situated. The application must be:

• made on the form specified
• accompanied by the prescribed fee, if any (there is no fee at present)
• made to the Garda Superintendent of the district concerned not less than 60 days before the first day on which it is intended to promote the gaming to which the application relates

A decision on whether to grant or refuse the Permit application will be made by the Superintendent within 28 days from receipt of the application.

Read further details on how the applications are assessed and the conditions associated with the permit.

There is currently no fee to apply for a Gaming Permit.

Application form for a Gaming Permit.