Section 19 certificate holders told to contact the Gambling Commission
Press release
Date: 1
December 2009
With less than one month to go before the
change in law on New Year’ Day, section 19 certificate holders are
being asked to contact the Commission urgently if they have yet to
make an application for a personal licence.
The Commission has consistently reminded 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),
to apply for their new personal licence. Existing section 19
certificates will cease to have effect at midnight on 31 December
2009.
The Commission’s Director of Regulation, Nick Tofiluk said:
“When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve anyone
performing licensed duties in a bingo club or casino must have
their new licence.
“The industry has responded very well with thousands of
employees getting their licences in advance but we believe there
are still a few section 19 certificate holders who need to apply.
Anyone in that position should contact us immediately.”
Section 19 certificate holders were given until 31 August this
year to guarantee their licence application would be processed
under the Gambling Act 2005. The Commission wrote to licensed
operators earlier this year to warn them about the change and
received nearly 4,000 personal applications in the six months prior
to the 31 August cut-off.
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
- 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling
in the public interest.
2. The Commission’s objectives are: to prevent gambling from being
a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or
disorder or being used to support crime; to ensure that gambling is
conducted in a fair and open way; and, to protect children and
other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by
gambling.
3. The Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating all
commercial 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.
4. The need for criminal record checks means that personal licence
applications made after 1 December, are unlikely to be determined
in time for 1 January 2010.
5. Section 19 certificates, such as red, white and pink
certificates, were issued to employees in specified roles within
the bingo and casino industries. Personal Functional Licence
applications cost £185 and Personal Management Licence applications
£370.
6. See previous press releases from February and
August.
Further information
- Further information is available from the Commission's website
at: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
You can also contact John Travers on (0121) 230
6700 or communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk