Advice and guidance updates
When is a gaming machine 'available for use' in AGC or bingo premises under the 20% regulations – updated guidance
We have updated our guidance to ensure AGC and bingo licensees are correctly restricting the number of B3 and B4 machines available for use at their premises. We have taken action because some machines appear to be designed primarily to maximise category B machine entitlements and not all player positions are ‘available for use’ in any practical way by more than one player at a time.
Please take some time to digest the guidance using this link and feel free to contact your compliance manager if you have any questions or come across premises which you feel may be non-compliant.
Updated consolidated code of practice document
The consolidated codes of practice, containing the codes from the operator Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) has been updated to reflect changes to the LCCP which come into force on 31 October 2019:
- The requirements on businesses to interact with customers at risk of or experiencing harm have been strengthened. They now focus more on the outcomes of identifying and interacting with customers who may be at risk of or experiencing harms associated with gambling, as well as assessing the impact that a customer interaction has on an individual consumer and the effectiveness of businesses’ overall approach. (amended Social Responsibility Code 3.4.1)
Additional customer interaction guidance has also been produced for premises based operators.
- Gambling business are now required to use only Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) providers who meet the Commission’s additional standards as well as the requirements of the ADR Regulations (opens in new tab). (amended Social Responsibility Code 6.1.1).
Please note that the LLEP inspection forms have been updated accordingly to reflect these changes, so please download the latest versions from the LLEP site.
Check your society lottery returns
We were recently advised of a complex lottery run in a pub which had a small society lottery registration but with no evidence of the proceeds being given to the charity.
The pub or organiser with an LA issued society lottery registration must meet the rules and regulations governing such lotteries including:
• The society/entity registered must be non-commercial (that is, not established for personal or commercial profit); • At least 20% of the proceeds of each lottery go to the good cause; • The proceeds (ticket sales) of each lottery must not exceed £20,000, and must not exceed £250,000 in any calendar year; • A maximum prize is £25,000 and rollovers are permitted if the prize does not exceed £25,000; • Strict rules around tickets and the information that they must carry and where they can be sold; • Submission of returns clearly stating the % of proceeds going to the good cause.
LAs are reminded to check all registration forms and lottery returns to ensure such lotteries are compliant, particularly in relation to the charity proceeds. Further details are available in our guidance “promoting society and local authority lotteries”
LAs are also reminded of the item in the April LA bulletin which set out the requirements for customer lotteries being run in pubs. Customer lotteries cannot be used for fund raising purposes, must only be advertised on the premises and cannot roll prizes over to a future lottery.
Running festive lotteries and raffles
We have issued a general reminder on the rules for raising money in the run up to Christmas through raffles, tombolas and lotteries.
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LA Bulletin 2019 - Reference materials
Last updated: 8 December 2023
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