For my friends in the UK

[monaghj]

The 2004/2005 annual report of the Gaming Board of Great Britain is now available @ http://www.gbgb.org.uk/annualreport.htm


The main figures from the GB Gaming Board annual report are as follows :-

Casinos operating : 138 (+3)

Total Visits : 12.3 million (+3.5%)
Average daily visits per casino : 240 (level)
Number of persons employed : 15,300 (+17%)

Total drop : £4,158 million (+2%)
Gross gaming win : £715 million (+6%)
Average hold : 17.19% (^ from 16.84%)
Gaming duty paid : £153 million

Slot machines : 1009 (+23)
Slots per casino : 7.3 (level)


The most interesting thing this year in my opinion is the number of license applications and where they have come from. There were a total of 75 applications for certificates of consent made to the board. 45 for continuance and 29 for new premises.
4 of these where from Companies not previously known to the board, 2 of whom where overseas operators.

11 new licenses have thus far been granted including :-

3 to LCI in respect of casinos in Blackpool, Nottingham and Glasgow. A CoC was also granted in early 2004 to LCI in respect of a casino in Manchester.

3 singleton operators are licensed but not yet trading including one in Scarborough, North Yorks.

Grosvenor have submitted 11 applications in respect of converting space formerly used for bingo into Casino premises. The board states that they see no problem with this as long as they do not have shared entrances/exits. They have also received consent for a casino in Dundee, Scotland.

[PachisloUk]

It's suprising here how few people go to casinos.

When on holiday I try to squeeze one in but it's difficult with a family, but here, I don't know anybody who goes to them.

Now, arcades at seaside resorts with low payout slots, I think people would rather play here. The arcades make a fortune and people would rather lose a few pounds rather than the whole bank balance.

(From my experience)

[monaghj]

I popped over to London for a meeting - I stayed at the Sheraton on Kensington highstreet close to Harrods. There is a Casino attached so I thought I would lose 50 pounds and snag some coin cups. There was not an obvious entrance from the lobby. The conciegre told me that all London Casinos were clubs, and while he could get me in it would be 20lbs and he needed to make the reservation 24hrs in advance.

I was only in London for 36 hrs .... so needless to say I didn't go...but its no wonder no one goes - they make it difficult. Whats your experience ?

[Firewire]

Guess they don't want the massess to attend? Only the Elite?

[PachisloUk]

It is always 24hours notice to become a member at a casino. At everywhere that I know, you must become a always member to go in. You can of course bring one guest with you when your a member. This is because the Casino's do a credit check on you to see if you've been taken to court for not paying your bills.

If you want to play slots then you hit the arcades. You can now win £500 for 50p per go in the arcade, but the rules have only changed in the last 2 years. Before we were restricted to £25.00 in arcades and £250.00 in clubs, so the arcades are an easy option for slots, but if its cards then it's impossible.

I like roulette in casino's rather than cards, but slots win hands down.

[Dazzyman]

When Im well enough I must get my parents to take us to Scarborough or Bridlington in wheelchair (I live 11miles from Brid and 23 from Scarborough) as its quite some time Ive been across. I only used to go for Pinball machines but there all practically gone now, have to look for Pachislo now

[proffesorpeter]

if your gonna play slots stick to the older machines- the new 25.00/15.00jp machines are all bloddy rip offs- its the reason im getting me my pachislos!
Hunt down the supernudge gamblers or eachway nudgers for quick cash!

[Dazzyman]

I wont play standard fruit aka slot machines m8 I detest the things, just no skill in them just an operator whats ramped the payout to minimum (worked in a few pubs over the years and seen what they do with em). Like the look of Pachislo tho a lot!
Last time we went ages ago it was full of the big machines with grabbers for toys and not much else, even the arcade games where few and far between

[Tulsa]

Now I love those crane machines. I have 3 hefty bags filled with the winnings from those. Sure glad I have neices, it's the only excuse a man in his forties is trying to win stuffed animals from a machine.

[Tony Junior]

And those grabbers are everywhere! You'd be amazed at the take just in Wal-Mart.

[Dazzyman]

Grabbers are the reason I started smoking at 14 (stopped at 22 luckily!). I used to be really good with the machines so was always winning 20packs with £1 notes attached to em (and bottles of minis for the rest of the crowd)

[dattia]

We have a crane in the diner...it gives out a lot of stuffed animals..but we always keep a stash in the office (that my husband won) in case a little kid doesn't win...we don't want anyone to leave in tears.

[Tony Junior]

Dazzzyman, you picked one of my favorite pics of a kitten as an avitar!

[Dazzyman]

Heheh:lmao: yea I play a lot of FPShooters on PC and big fan of cats so works well (we have 4cats at home). If I can figure out how to post pics on main chat page I will post some.

[Tulsa]

Looks like Lee Harvey Kitty to me.

[Tony Junior]

Arby taught me how to post pics here. It's really simple.

First you need a place to host your pictures, just on your computer won't do. For example I use fotki.
http://www.fotki.com
It's located in the states but that shouldn't be a problem. Also, you are allowed a free account, but it is limited in size. I pay $39.00 a year for unlimited.

Once you have an account set up, wherever it may be, the syntax is simply:

{img]http://www.whatever.com/your-account-name/picture.jpg[/img]
But change the "{" to "[" at th very beginning.

Like I would use this -- http://images7.fotki.com/v106/photos...WGsmall-vi.jpg

to post the pic here, but adding the "[img] - [/img] at the beginning and end without the quotes.

[Tony Junior]

Looks like Lee Harvey Kitty to me.

WRONG! That kitty hunts liberals. :burnout:

[luckydog]

I just bought this at Goodwill for 3.99, it's about a foot high and runs on 2 c batteries.

has small LCD, bell, music and flashing light on top



Sorry, I don't know how to resize it

[dattia]

Looks plastic. Is it a bank?

[luckydog]

it's a bank, but you don't need money to play.

I never could post pictures, I wasn't smart enought

Thanks Tony, you made it look so easy I had to try it