How do I apply for a personal management licence - arcades

If you apply for an operating licence for an Adult Gaming Centre or Family Entertainment Centre, you may need to apply for one or more personal management licences (PMLs) as well.

You might not need to apply for a PML if you qualify as a small-scale operator. You will, however, need to complete an Annex A personal declaration form (Operating licence application - (Annex A) personal declaration form - July 2010) with details of anyone in these positions.

Otherwise, anyone responsible for any of these areas of your organisation will need to apply for a PML:

Overall strategy and delivery of gambling operations.
Financial planning, control and budgeting.
Marketing and commercial development.
Regulatory compliance.
Gambling related IT provision and security.
Management of the licensed activity for a particular area in Great Britain where you have five or more sets of premises for which you hold a premises licence.

Individuals who perform more than one of these management functions at the same time only need to hold one PML.

When do I apply?

You should apply for personal management licences (PMLs) for people in relevant management positions at the same time as applying for your operating licence.

Until the Gambling Commission issues your PML, you should not carry out the responsibilities that a PML allows you to do, for example, make operational decisions.

Application forms for personal management licences

You should apply online by completing the following forms (you will need Adobe Reader 9.1 or above installed on your computer in order to download them):

Please read the guidance notes carefully when completing your application form.

If you need a paper copy of these forms, please contact us.

What do I need to do to complete my application?

As well as your completed application form, you will also need to send in:

a personal licence photo ID form
any continuation pages you have used
proof of identity documents (originals or notorised copies. These will be returned by Recorded or special delivery and will need to be signed for upon receipt)
Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland application form or recent report (please email or call our contact centre to get a copy of this form). Also see: Does having a criminal record affect my application for a Personal Management or Personal Functional Licence?
copies of any gambling licences not issued in the United Kingdom (UK)
the licence fee.

If you are not a British national or have not lived in the UK for the past two years, you should also send us your overseas police report.

If you do not send us all the information we require, we may reject your application.

We will not return your fee if your application is unsuccessful or you choose to withdraw from the application process.

How do I submit my application?

You print out the blank application form and fill it in by hand in black ink. When you have completed your personal management licence application and photo ID form, please send them along with any supporting documents to the address below. Make sure if you are paying your licence fee by credit or debit card that you have completed the payment section at the end of the application form.

Licensing Submissions
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4BP

What happens next?

Find out what happens after you apply.

Page last reviewed: January 2012

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