Operators should not get excited at the news that poker games will be permitted in pubs in England and Wales under the new gambling laws.
Locations will be able to offer poker games for limited stakes from September. Currently, only those pubs with a special licence from the local authority can hold poker games. But the dispensation will not see the advent of coin-operated video poker games - it applies to live card games only.
Poker has become a firm favourite with online gamblers, but at the moment only traditional pub games such as dominoes and cribbage can be played without licences.
Consultations are to be held by the DCMS and interested parties early in 2007 about the level of stakes to be permitted, but insiders think a maximum of £10 stakes per head will be the limit.
The prospects for video poker machines were dashed by news that they would have to conform to the new Category C regulations on stakes and prizes to be used in a public house.
Under the new regulatory changes, bingo can also be played in a pub for a maximum prize of £2,000.
