Regulation of FOBTs
Request
Information relating to how The Gambling Commission does to monitor the payouts in local bookies offices around the UK. Further to this, full details of how the GC monitors FOBT in bookies as well as similar machines in Wetherspoon etc. Including, what checks are performed?
Response
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested information relating to how The Gambling Commission does to monitor the payouts in local bookies offices around the UK. Further to this, full details of how the GC monitors FOBT in bookies as well as similar machines in Wetherspoon etc. Including, what checks are performed?
All Gambling operators are required to hold a licence from the Commission in order to offer facilities for gambling to customers located in Great Britain. The Commission goes through a licence application process as part of this and makes an assessment of suitability against criteria set out in the Act. Part 5 of the Gambling Act 2005 details the Commission’s statutory functions in relation to the licensing requirements. The Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) set out the requirements all licensees must meet in order to hold a Gambling Commission licence.
Section 21 of the FOIA provides that information is exempt where it is reasonably accessible elsewhere.
Information on the licensing requirements of different types of gaming machines can be found on our website at the following link:
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/gaming-machine-categories
The Gambling Commission’s Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) set out the requirements all licensees must meet in order to hold a Gambling Commission licence. This can be found on our website at the following link:
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/lccp/online
The LCCP conditions for licensing gaming machines can be found on our website at the following link:
The LCCP conditions for access to premises can be found on our website at the following link:
Once licensed, gambling operators are subject to ongoing compliance requirements and are subject to regulatory action should they fail to meet their licence requirements.
Review of the decision
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.
Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.
If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.
The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham B2 4BP