Lancashire operations continue fight against illegal machine supply
Press release
Date: 10 September 2009
A 27 year-old man from Bacup, Lancashire, has
received a criminal caution for illegally supplying gaming machines
to an alcohol licensed premises.
The caution resulted from a multi-agency
operation to ensure that those providing gaming machines in the
area are properly licensed. The operation involved officers from
the Gambling Commission (the Commission), Lancashire Police and
Rossendale Borough Council.
In a similar joint operation with officers
from Blackpool Council, a number of hotels and guest houses in
Blackpool were found to be operating gaming machines without the
appropriate permissions. The premises owners have been told to act
immediately in order to avoid further action from the council and
the Commission is conducting further enquiries about the supply of
these machines.
The Gambling Commission’s Regional Compliance
Manager for the North-West, David Thornton, said:
“Businesses supplying or making gaming
machines available for use without a licence risk action from the
Commission or its local enforcement partners.
“Both operations unearthed intelligence about
the original source of the machines and we will follow that
up.”
The Commission has conducted more than 20
joint operations with local authorities since it launched a
nationwide drive targeting illegal suppliers of gaming machines
last September. As part of the work, 294 visits to raise awareness
or obtain information from operators were made in the six months
from September last year to March 2009.
Last month the Commission announced that it
considered licensed manufacturers and wholesalers selling used and
recycled gaming machines to be a major source of machines in the
illegal market. The Commission will be conducting a review of
the issue and may consider, for example, introducing a requirement
to report the disposal or recycling of machines as a ‘key event’ or
as part of a regulatory return.
Manufacturers and suppliers of gaming machines
must be licensed by the Commission. Those with information
regarding the illegal supply of gaming machines should contact the
Commission on (0121) 230 6666.
Notes to editors
The Gambling Commission
- 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission)
regulates gambling in the public interest. It does so by keeping
crime out of gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted
fairly and openly, and by protecting children and vulnerable people
from being harmed or exploited by gambling. The Commission also
provides independent advice to government on gambling in
Britain.
- 2. The Commission is responsible for
licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than
the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the
responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial
Services Authority (FSA) respectively.
- 3. Full details of operating licence
requirements can be found at: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/gamingmachines.
- 4. These investigations concern the supply of
illegal gaming machines and is part of a wider programme of
compliance and enforcement activity. The Commission is based in
Birmingham and has a nationwide team of over 50 compliance
managers.
- 5. Information on the Commission’s nationwide
drive against the illegal supply of gaming machines can be found
at:
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/gh-media/latest_news/2008/nationwide_drive_targets_illeg.aspx
.
- 6. Premises with a qualifying on-premises
alcohol licence are automatically entitled to two gaming machines
of category C or D but this entitlement is subject to them
notifying the local licensing authority and paying the prescribed
fee. Such premises can also apply to the local licensing authority
for a licensed premises gaming machine permit, which, if granted,
would allow for further category C or D machines to be made
available on their premises.
Further information
Further information is available from the
Commission’s website at: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/.
Gambling Commission: John Travers on (0121)
230 6700, (07852) 124624 or communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk