UNITED KINGDOM

CURRENCY: Pound Sterling (E).

EXCHANGE RATE: ? 0.61 = US$1.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English.

POPULATION: 55,670,000.

CAPITAL: London.

INTERNATIONAL CODE: TELEPHONE 44.

CURRENCY CONTROLS: The Pound Sterling is fully convertible and may be freely imported and exported.

GAMING INFORMATION: Since the legalization of Casino gambling in 1960, Great Britain has become one of the world's major gambling centers.There are some 130 casinos operating throughout the country with some 20 casinos operating in London alone; the rest are in 53 towns and cities mostly in popular seaside resorts and large industrial towns.All the British casinos operate under the Gaming Act of 1968 which established the Gaming Board with strict controls.A government commission has studied the existing law and made recommendations as to which elements of the British gaming law should be revise.The British casinos remain operating under the provision of Gaming Act of 1968 with some revisions.
According to the British law gambling is permitted as long as it meets an existing, unstimulated demand, but casinos should not encourage gambling.All the casinos must operate as clubs with private membership.Licenses are granted only after a thorough investigation by the Gaming Board and only when the board is convinced a gambling demand truly exists.Gambling is restricted to club members and their guests.All prospective members must be at least 18 years of age, complete an application form and sign a declaration of intent to gamble on the club premises.The application is reviewed for a statutory period of not less than 24 hours, 7he 24 hour flu / e'; recently reduced from 48 hours before a membership can be granted.In London membership fees range from about a low of ?2 to ?25 per year and the wagers range from a minimum 5p to ?5 and a maximum of from ?50 to ?1,000.
Outside of London there are usually no membership fees and the minimum wagers are from 25p-El; maximum ?25-E200.By law no tipping is accepted; alcohol is prohibited from the gaming rooms; no live entertainment is allowed.
Casino may now have slot machines in proportion to the number of table games offered and offer greater payouts.Prior law restricted each casino regardless of size to 2 slot machines (fruit machines in British parlance).Roulette is the most popular game, played American style, but with only one zero.Following in popularity are blackjack, baccarat (mostly punto banco), and craps, which are the only other games permitted.The casinos are open all year except Christmas Day.Their hours may vary but by law they may be open from 2pm to 4am, except Sunday morning with closing required at 2am.The casinos are not allowed to publicize their facilities in the United Kingdom, with the exception of the Isle of Man, and must not recruit or tout for membership in any way.Information on casinos in the United Kingdom may be obtained from the British Casino Association, 29 Castle St, Reading, Berks RG1 7SL Tel: (1734) 589191.

Fax: (1734) 589191.
If you can not make your own arrangements to go as a guest of a member, and you wish to gamble, upon arrival in London consult your hotel concierge.They are the best source of up-to-date information on admission requirements, fees, wagering limits, and games available.They will assist you in obtaining membership to the casino of your preference.Do not try to obtain membership by writing in advance of your arrival from overseas.You must follow the Gaming Act, and submit your application from within the country and wait at least 24 hours for acceptance and admission to the casino.
Additional changes in the British gaming law may see the introduction of new games currently excluded by law, and may allow casinos to publicize their facilities within the United Kingdom.Currently casinos are not permitted to advertise their facilities.
In London we include some 20 casinos for your consideration.Three of the casinos are located on the premises London's great hotels: London Hilton on Park Lane, Sheraton Park Tower, and the Ritz, but as required by British law they operate as clubs separate from the hotels.
In Edinburgh you may want to consider the four casinos located in the center of Edinburgh within walking distance of the George Hotel.
On the Isle of Man there is only one casino.It is in the Palace Hotel.Club membership is not obligatory.It is not subject to the British gaming regulations.However from a gambler's point of view the odds compare unfavorably with those on the English mainland.