The Gambling Act 2005 comprehensively modernised the law on
gambling and introduced a powerful regulator for gambling, the
Gambling Commission. This came out of the existing Gaming
board for Great Britain. The Commission issue Personal and
Operating licences and ensure compliance with these and the
associated Codes of Practice. It investigates and prosecutes
illegal gambling providers. In addition, whilst the Gambling
Commission regulates the gambling industry, the Act gives
responsibility for the licensing of gambling premises to the local
authorities.
The Act made simple
Gambling operators will require an operating licence and any
relevant personal licences from the Gambling Commission. They will
have to obtain a premises licence from their relevant local
authority. Any decisions made by either body must be made in
accordance with the three licensing objectives which are:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and
disorder
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being
harmed or exploited by gambling.
- The Act requires licensing authorities to produce and
publish a Statement of Principles which sets out how the licensing
authority intends to exercise its functions under the Act and
guidance issued by the Gambling Commission.
The licensing authority’s main function is issuing premises
licences for casinos, betting offices, race tracks, bingo clubs,
adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres. It also
issues Permits for Gaming Machines in Members’ Clubs and licensed
premises, prize gaming and non licensed family entertainment
centres.
Acts
Replaced by the Gambling Act 2005
The Act gives licensing authorities a number of important
regulatory functions in relation to gambling, including:
- The issuing of premises licences for casinos, bingo halls,
betting offices, adult gaming centres and licensed family
entertainment centres.
- The granting of permits for gaming and gaming machines in
clubs, unlicensed family entertainment centres, and gaming machines
in pubs and other alcohol licensed premises.
From 1 September 2007, in order for gambling activity to take
place in any public premises within our boundary, the
following licences will be required:
- An Operating Licence
- A Personal Licence (subject to circumstance)
- A Premises Licence
Further information for existing operators can be accessed using
the links below:
The Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission was created by the Gambling Act 2005 and
came into existence on 1 October 2005, they have taken over the
work of the Gaming Board, in regulating bingo, casinos, society
lotteries and gaming machines.
From September 2007 the Commission also regulates betting and
remote gambling. Their remit covers all commercial gambling except
the National Lottery (which has its own dedicated regulator, the
National Lottery Commission) and spread betting (which is regulated
by the Financial Services Agency).
The Commission's main functions under the Act are:
- issue operating licences to authorise the licensee to provide
facilities for gambling, and personal licences to authorise the
licensee to perform particular functions;
- monitor licensed operators to ensure that they comply with the
regulations;
- keep the regulations under review and make changes to reflect
changes in the industry and in technology;
- advise the Secretary of State on the incidence of gambling and
how it is carried out and regulated;
- issue guidance to local authorities on their functions under
the Act; and
- investigate and prosecute illegal gambling and other offences
under the Act.
Further information is available from the Gambling
Commission.
Statement of principles
The Gambling Act 2005 requires all licensing authorities to
prepare, consult and publish a three-year licensing policy known as
a Statement of Principles. The Statement underlines the
principles the council will apply in exercising their functions
under the Gambling Act.
Following public consultation the city council has developed its
second Statement of Principles having received approval by Full
Council on 2 December 2009. This is available for
download using the link below. The Statement of Principles
came into effect 31 January 2010.
Copies of the Statement can be obtained from the link below and
can be inspected at our offices
our offices.
The document below appears in Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. In order to view it you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed. (Those with visual impairments may wish to investigate Access Adobe, which provides tools and information to help make PDF files more accessible). Please note that some of the files are more than 1MB in size, and could take some time to download. | |
Statement of principles
(737KB, 32 pages)
Further information
Further information on the Gambling Act 2005 is available from
the Department for Culture Media and
Sport.
For further information concerning the Gambling Act 2005,
please contact our licensing team.
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