{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-act-2005/section-344",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-act-2005/section-344.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2005/19",
  "legislation_title": "Gambling Act 2005",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-act-2005",
  "path": "section/344",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "344",
  "heading": "Participation fees",
  "text": "(1) In this Act “participation fee” means an amount paid in respect of entitlement to participate in gambling; and for that purpose—\n(a) it is immaterial—\n(i) how a fee is described,\n(ii) whether a fee is payable in money or in money's worth,\n(iii) when and how a fee is payable,\n(iv) to whom a fee is payable,\n(b) a charge for admission to premises where gambling takes place shall be treated as a participation fee,\n(c) a membership subscription is not a participation fee (subject to subsections (2) and (3)), and\n(d) a stake is not a participation fee.\n(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for a membership subscription to be treated as a participation fee in specified circumstances.\n(3) For the purposes of section 279, a membership subscription is a participation fee.\n(4) The Secretary of State may make regulations providing, in connection with the operation of a provision made by or by virtue of this Act in relation to a participation fee, for the apportionment of an amount which is payable partly in respect of entitlement to participate in gambling and partly in respect of another matter; and that provision may, in particular—\n(a) provide for apportionment by a specified person;\n(b) provide for apportionment in accordance with a specified formula or principle;\n(c) refer to the concept of reasonableness.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 344 in force at 1.9.2007 by S.I. 2006/3272, art. 2(4)(5), Sch. 3B (with arts. 7-11, 7-12, Sch. 4) (as inserted by S.I. 2007/2169, arts. 3, 6, Sch.)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/section/344",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:15:42.684927+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}