Advice and guidance updates

The Institute of Licensing and the Commission have worked together to produce a new e-learning module to add to the existing suite of gambling modules. Many thanks to those licensing officers who participated in the pilot work.

Pubs and the Gambling Act 2005

• this module is designed to help LAs and police improve their understanding of what to consider when undertaking compliance checks on the various forms of gambling permitted in pubs
• the module provides an introduction to gaming machines, exempt gaming (bingo and poker) and lotteries in pubs along with the Codes of Practice which pubs must adhere to, including requirements in relation to preventing under age gambling.

Please note: This module does not take account of the impact of the requirements on pubs under any legislation or regulations relating to measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19 ie social distancing / opening or closing requirements.

Other gambling e-learning modules are already available:

• three gaming machines modules which cover the various types of gaming machines, the physical components and signage requirements and how to deal with non-compliant machines
• powers to enter inspect gambling premises
• introduction to inspecting a betting premises.

All modules can be accessed via the IOL website, and they are CPD accredited.  Log in to the e-learning tab if you have an existing account, or request a log in via membership@instituteoflicensing.org to get started, if you are not an IOL member. 

Changes to the rules for society and local authority lotteries licensed by the Commission took effect on 29 July.  These changes were notified in the Commission’s responses document on 29 April, following a consultation. 

They are as follows:

Lottery limits

Limits on the size of society and local authority lotteries have been raised in line with recent Government legislation. This means:

• the limit on individual draw proceeds has risen to £5million from £4million
• the annual aggregate proceeds limit has increased to £50million (pro-rata limit of £31,311,475 in 2020), up from £10million, and;
• the maximum individual prize has risen to £500,000 from £400,000, provided that the lottery proceeds reach the new maximum individual draw level.

Requirements and guidance

New requirements and guidance have been put in place to provide clear, transparent and easily accessible information to consumers on:

• how much is returned to the good causes and what good causes they’re supporting
• how much is spent on prizes
• how much is spent on expenses
• the process around the awarding of grants
• the way in which winners are determined and prizes allocated
• the potential prizes available, and;
• the likelihood of winning a prize.

Further information about these requirements can be found in the Commission’s guidance Information to lottery players: proceeds and prizes. The consolidated Codes of Practice document has also been updated to reflect the addition of SR Code 4.3.3.