# Gambling Act 2005, Section 344: Participation fees

Extent: E+W+S

(1) In this Act “participation fee” means an amount paid in respect of entitlement to participate in gambling; and for that purpose—
(a) it is immaterial—
(i) how a fee is described,
(ii) whether a fee is payable in money or in money's worth,
(iii) when and how a fee is payable,
(iv) to whom a fee is payable,
(b) a charge for admission to premises where gambling takes place shall be treated as a participation fee,
(c) a membership subscription is not a participation fee (subject to subsections (2) and (3)), and
(d) a stake is not a participation fee.
(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for a membership subscription to be treated as a participation fee in specified circumstances.
(3) For the purposes of section 279, a membership subscription is a participation fee.
(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—
(a) provide for apportionment by a specified person;
(b) provide for apportionment in accordance with a specified formula or principle;
(c) refer to the concept of reasonableness.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/section/344 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-act-2005/section-344
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.