The Gambling Act 2005 provides a system of licensing and regulation for commercial gambling, and gives us responsibilities for licensing premises for gambling.
The act sets out three gambling objectives which we have a duty to promote. These are:
- preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime and disorder or being used to support crime
- ensuring gambling is conducted in a fair and open away
- protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
The Gambling Commission, set up as a result of the act, regulates commercial gambling in Great Britain in partnership with licensing authorities. It also issues personal and operators licences.
Types of applications
We are responsible for dealing with the following types of applications:
- gambling premises licences , including bingo halls, betting shops, amusement arcades and casinos
- club gaming permits and club machine permits
- family entertainment centres gaming machine permits
- gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises
- small society lotteries
- prize gaming permits
- temporary use notices
- occasional use notices.
Our gambling policy
All councils are required to publish a statement of policy, which is based on the gambling objectives and sets out how the law will be applied locally.
Read our Gambling Act 2005: statement of policy