How do I apply for a personal functional licence - casinos?

Casino employees will have to apply for a personal functional licence (PFL) if they are involved in gaming or handling cash in relation to gambling.

Examples of employees who should have PFL are:

dealers/croupiers
cashiers
inspectors
pit bosses/gaming supervisors
security staff/surveillance related to gambling activities.

When do I apply?

If you are going to be involved in gaming or handling cash in relation to gambling you must apply and be issued with a personal functional licence (PFL) before you can start work in a casino.

How do I complete my application form?

You can use the same forms to apply for either a personal management licence or a PFL. Apply online by filling out the following forms (you will need Adobe Reader 8 or above installed on your computer):

Make sure you read the Personal licence application Guidance notes - July 2012 carefully when completing your application form.

If you need to order paper copies 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:

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?

When you have completed your PFL application and photo ID form, please email them to licencesubmissions@gamblingcommission.gov.uk. 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, otherwise send your licence fee to the address below.

Send any supporting documents to the address below, and if you have written your application by hand you should post it to us at:

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

What happens next?

Find out what happens after you apply.

Gambling sectors