Case studies
Haringey‘s illegally sited machines and betting terminal prosecution
Following previous warnings to the owner regarding siting of illegal machines, enforcement officers from the London Borough of Haringey with Haringey’s partnership police team, accompanied by the Commission’s local compliance manager, seized 7 illegally sited gaming machines and an illegal betting terminal in February 2018 from a social club in the borough as part of a joint enforcement operation tackling crime. The machines sited included variety of Joker Poker type machines and Black Horse machines.
The illegal betting terminal displayed odds for various sporting events for which customers could place bets by printing slips from the terminal and paying money to staff behind the counter. The club owner appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in September 2018 and pleaded guilty to offences under the Gambling Act (opens in new tab). The owner was fined £600 for the offences, £400 in costs and surcharges and a forfeiture order was made for the machines and betting terminal.
Training Powys’ licensing committee
One of the Commission’s compliance managers recently attended the Powys licensing committee meeting to deliver some member training and to support the senior licensing officer Sue Jones who was presenting the council’s draft Statement of Gambling Policy to the Committee.
As part of the training licensing councillors were taken to an independent betting shop in LLandridnod Wells where members were able to see first-hand how a small-scale bookmaker operates.
The shop manager explained how the operation worked and answered some searching questions from members about a betting shop in general. They now have a greater understanding of general bookmakers especially the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.
Asked what the strangest bet he had ever been asked to take the shop manager said it was for a bride not to turn up to her own wedding in the town some years previously. He didn’t take the bet, she didn’t turn up, and he later learnt the person wanting to place the bet was her sister!
Bolton Council’s multi agency day of action
Bolton Council (opens in new tab) recently ran a town centre action day with various inspections carried out by different council teams including food, health & safety, immigration, licensing and fire.
The Commission supported the licensing team in conducting inspections of betting shops focusing on compliance with protecting children and the vulnerable and the prevention of crime, using LLEP inspection templates. The LA will write to all premises visited to advise them of the remedial action required to address the issues that were identified. These primarily related to the local risk assessments as operators had not addressed the issues in the council’s statement of policy when producing the risk assessments, nor involved in the shop staff in the process.
LAs and police are encouraged to send case studies for inclusion in future bulletins. Please supply details to info@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
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LA Bulletin October 2018 - Advice and guidance updates
Last updated: 15 December 2023
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