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Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 ("the Act") replaced most of the existing law about gambling in Great Britain and put in place an improved, more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation.

 

The Act introduced a unified regulator for gambling in Great Britain, the Gambling Commission, and a new licensing regime for commercial gambling (to be conducted by the Commission or by Licensing Authorities, depending on the matter to be licensed).

 

The Act removed from licensing justices all responsibility for granting gaming and betting permissions, which they had exercised previously. Instead, the Gambling Commission and ourselves share between us responsibility for all those matters previously regulated by the licensing justices.

 

Premise and Permit Licence holders, ourselves and other agencies must all work to promote the three Gambling Licensing objectives which are:

 

  • Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to 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

 

Under the provisions of the Act we are required to produce a Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy which sets out how we intend to administer the Act.

 

We undertake various regulatory functions in relation to a number of gambling activities and we are responsible for:
 
  • The issuing of Premise Licences for the provision of gambling activities;
  • The issuing of Permits for Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres, Club Gaming, Club Machines, Licensed Premises Gaming Machines and Prize Gaming;
  • The issuing of Provisional Statements;
  • The receiving and endorsing of Temporary Use Notices; 
  • The receiving of Occasional Use Notices; and, 
  • The registering of Small Lotteries

 

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have prepared a leaflet to help you understand the Act and the role that we, as Licensing Authority, have in determining and regulating the gambling industry in our local area.

 

Further information

Last Updated on 4/26/2013