The
Gambling Act 2005 replaced most of the existing gambling
laws in Great Britain and put in place an improved, more
comprehensive structure of gambling regulation covering practically
all forms of gambling except the national lottery and spread
betting.
The Act created a new independent unified regulator,
The Gambling Commission
and a new licensing regime operated by the commission and the
licensing authorities (local authorities).
Licensing Objectives
The Act contains three licensing objectives which underpin the
functions that the Commission and licensing authorities will
perform. These are:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder
being associated with crime and disorder, or being used the support
crime;
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way;
and
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being
harmed or exploited by gambling.
The Commission and the licensing authorities can only have
regard to these objectives when carrying out their functions under
the Act.
Types of Licences
The Act creates three levels of licensing.
Operating Licences
Individuals and companies who intend to provide facilities for
certain types of gambling must obtain an operating licence from the
gambling commission.
Personal Licences
One of the mandatory conditions placed on operating licences
will require at least one person to hold a personal licence, which
will be obtained from the Commission. This will usually be held by
a person in a management position but will not apply to small-scale
operators.
Premises licences
These are issued by licensing authorities such as Barrow
Borough Council and will authorise the provisions of facilities for
gambling on:-
- Casino premises
- Bingo premises, betting premises, including tracks
- Adult gaming centres and
- Family entertainment centres.
Licensing Authority Functions
The Licensing Authorities main functions are:
- Responsibility for the licensing of premises where gambling
activities take place by the issue of premises licences
- Issue of Provisional Statements (for premises not yet
built)
- Regulation of members clubs and miners welfare institutions who
may wish to undertake certain gaming activities via the issue of
Club Gaming Permits and/or Club Machine Permits
- Issue of Club Machine Permits to Commercial Clubs
- Granting of permits for the use of certain lower stake gaming
machines at unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres
- Receiving notifications from alcohol licensed premises (under
the Licensing Act 2003) for the use of not more than two gaming
machines
- Granting of Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permits for
premises licensed to sell/supply alcohol for consumption on the
premises where more than two machines are requested
- Registering small society lotteries
- Issuing Prize Gaming Permits
- Receiving and endorsing Temporary Use notices
- Receiving Occasional Use notices
- Providing information to the Gambling Commission regarding
details of licences issued
- Maintaining registers of the permits and licences that are
issued under these functions
Gambling Policy Statement
The Gambling Policy Statement was published in January
2010.
You can download a copy of the Policy by using the links
below:
If you have any questions please contact: (01229) 876543