Casino's and Alcohol

Shakyhands108 · 14-03-2011 1:29pm #1

Are Casino's/Private members clubs allowed to sell alcohol .

I went to a casino in Navan the other night with a few mates to play poker. i got knocked out of the tourney and was watching a cash game . There was drink readily available from the pub below and when the pub closed you could get cans of beer from the casino .
Now there was two cash games going , one of which had a min €100 buy in and the other had a €30 buy in . I asked for a beer but i was charged €2, which i have no problem with but i was told if i was playing at the €100 table there was no charge but if at the €30 there was. Why ??

Secondly i paid the girl with a €20 note but she gave me my change in chips . When i told her i didnt want chips for change she said i would have to take the chips and then cash them out when i am leaving . When i told her that i didnt want chips as i wasn't playing i was met with the highest level of ignorance i have ever recieved anywhere ever. She wasn't too happy either when i pointed out to her that it was UK drink they were selling but that's another story.

My question is , are casino's licensed to sell drink and if so when you pay in cash do you have to accept casino chips as your change ??

CheckRaiseIRL · 15-03-2011 11:19am

Yes they can sell alcohol.

It is good business for them to give chips as it encourages people to gamble. If you dont want to gamble it will take you 30 seconds when leaving to convert them to cash.

They give free booze to the bigger game as they can cover the cost of the beer with the extra rake/fees a larger game generates.

There is no benefit to argueing with a waitress about something petty when she is trying to do her job, working very late hours and has about 5 other drinks orders to fill.

Instead of giving out to a young girl why didnt you complain to the casino manager?

olie77 · 17-03-2011 3:39am

CheckRaiseIRL wrote: »

Yes they can sell alcohol.

I not sure but thought you need a licence to sell beer but you can give it away for free. Not saying you are wrong or anything but I wudn't mind knowing if casino's can charge for it.

CheckRaiseIRL · 17-03-2011 10:55am

I dont know if they have to apply for a liquor licence but considering the cost of it to some of the smaller clubs I would doubt it.

Casinos in Ireland are operated as private members clubs so different rules most likely apply but that is due to be changed soon.

olie77 · 17-03-2011 8:16pm

Would be nice to have different rules:D but I think they need a licence as where I work we used to give out free beer and we couldn't charge for it, but we could accept tips for it. Again I havta agree with you it is a big expense especally on small buy in games

Shakyhands108 · 17-03-2011 10:21pm

CheckRaiseIRL wrote: »

Yes they can sell alcohol.

It is good business for them to give chips as it encourages people to gamble. If you dont want to gamble it will take you 30 seconds when leaving to convert them to cash.

They give free booze to the bigger game as they can cover the cost of the beer with the extra rake/fees a larger game generates.

There is no benefit to argueing with a waitress about something petty when she is trying to do her job, working very late hours and has about 5 other drinks orders to fill.

Instead of giving out to a young girl why didnt you complain to the casino manager?

Thanks for your reply .
I have since found out that a casino/private members club is not allowed to sell alcohol . They are allowed to supply it but cannot charge for it .

In answer to the bolded question above , i would have complained to the manager/owner but he was too busy offering people 6/4 to try and beat him at pool :rolleyes::rolleyes: (LOL) Really Classy place