August deadline only three weeks away for section 19 certificate holders
Press release
Date: 11
August 2009
Time is running out for section 19 certificate holders to ensure
they are properly licensed under the Gambling Act 2005.
Employees in the bingo and casino industry who
still hold certificates of approval, issued under section 19 of the
Gaming Act 1968 (section 19 certificates), must apply for their new
personal licence before the end of August in order to guarantee
their application is determined by the end of the year. Any
existing section 19 certificates will cease to have effect on 31
December 2009.
Section 19 certificates were issued to people
working in specified roles within the bingo and casino industries.
On 1 September 2007 the previous arrangements were replaced by the
Gambling Act 2005 which the introduced personal management licence
(PML) and personal functional licence (PFL). Existing section 19
certificate holders were given two years to make their personal
licence application to the Commission.
The Commission’s Director of Regulation, Nick
Tofiluk said:
“We have already received hundreds of
applications but we believe there are still people out there who
need to apply. Any bingo or casino worker still operating under the
permissions granted prior to September 2007 under a section 19
certificate will put their employment status at risk if they do not
get their application to the Commission before the end of
August.”
The amount payable for an application changes
today (11 August) and is detailed below:
- The application fee for a PFL is £185. This licence is required
by any individual performing any of the operational functions
which would allow them to influence the outcome of gambling or any
function relating to the receiving or paying of money in connection
with gambling, for example, a croupier.
- The application fee for a PML is £370. This licence is required
by any individual responsible for a key management function such as
marketing and commercial development or regulatory compliance, for
example, a casino or bingo manager.
For both PFLs and PMLs no annual renewal fee
is required and, in contrast to the previous certificate, a licence
is not tied to an employer.
For further information on the requirements
and to download an application form please go to the Commission’s
website (Bingo
and
Casino). If you have any further questions then please contact
the Commission via email on info@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
or by calling us on (0121) 230 6666.
Ends
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.
Further information
- Further information is available from the Commission's website
at: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
- You can also call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852)
124624 or email him via j.travers@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
.