Guidance
Guidance to licensing authorities
The Gambling Commission's guidance for licensing authorities.
Contents
- Changes to the Guidance for Licensing Authorities
- Part 1: General guidance on the role and responsibilities of licensing authorities in gambling regulation
- Introduction
- Partnership working between the Commission and licensing authorities – shared regulation
- Co-ordination and contact
- Primary legislation
- Statutory aim to permit gambling
- The licensing objectives
- Codes of practice
- Licensing authority discretion (s.153 of the Act)
- Local risk assessments
- Licensing authority policy statement
- Limits on licensing authority discretion
- Other powers
- Part 2: The licensing framework
- Introduction
- Operating licences
- How operating licences are granted
- Operating licence conditions and codes
- Personal licences
- Premises licences
- Part 3: The Gambling Commission
- Introduction
- Main functions of the Commission
- Relationship between the Commission and licensing authorities
- Part 4: Licensing authorities
- Part 5: Principles to be applied by licensing authorities
- Licensing objectives
- Section 153 principles
- Codes of practice
- Good practice in regulation
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Other considerations
- Part 6: Licensing authority policy statement
- Introduction
- Fundamental principles
- Form and content
- Other matters to be considered
- Local risk assessments
- Local area profile
- Declaration by licensing authority
- Consultation
- Reviewing and updating the policy statement
- Advertisement and publication
- Additional information to be made available
- Part 7: Premises licences
- Introduction
- Premises
- Access to premises
- Multiple activity premises – layout and access
- Applications
- Application for premises variation (s.187): ‘material change’
- Consideration of planning permission and building regulations
- Part 8: Responsible authorities and interested parties definitions
- Part 9: Premises licence conditions
- Introduction
- Conditions and authorisations by virtue of the Act
- Conditions attached through regulations made by the Secretary of State or Scottish Ministers – all premises
- Conditions that may not be attached to premises licences by licensing authorities
- Part 10: Review of premises licence by licensing authority
- Introduction
- Initiation of review by licensing authority
- Application for a review
- Carrying out a review
- Part 11: Provisional statements
- Part 12: Rights of appeal and judicial review
- Part 13: Information exchange
- Underlying principles
- Information licensing authorities provide to the Commission
- Other licensing authority information requirements
- Part 14: Temporary use notices
- Part 15: Occasional use notices
- Part 16: Gaming machines
- Introduction
- Categories of gaming machine
- Age restrictions
- Maximum number of machines by premises type
- Multiple activity premises
- The meaning of ‘available for use’
- Machines other than gaming machines in gambling premises
- Part 17: Casinos
- Casino premises
- Casino games
- Protection of children and young persons
- The process for issuing casino premises licences
- Resolutions not to issue casino licences
- Converted casinos (with preserved rights under Schedule 18 of the Act)
- Casino premises licence conditions
- Mandatory conditions – small casino premises licences
- Mandatory conditions – converted casino premises licences
- Default conditions attaching to all casino premises licences
- Self-exclusion
- Part 18: Bingo
- Introduction
- Protection of children and young persons
- Gaming machines
- Self-exclusion
- Bingo in clubs and alcohol-licensed premises
- Bingo premises licence conditions
- Part 19: Betting premises
- Introduction
- Protection of children and young persons
- Gaming machines
- Self-exclusion
- Self-service betting terminals (SSBTs)
- Betting premises licence conditions
- Industry codes
- Part 20: Tracks
- Definition of a track
- Track premises licences – differences from other premises licences
- Betting on tracks
- Licences and other permissions for the provision of betting facilities
- Betting on event and non-event days
- Social responsibility considerations for tracks
- Gaming machines
- Self-service betting terminals (SSBTs)
- Applications
- Licence conditions and requirements
- Part 21: Adult gaming centres
- Introduction
- Protection of children and young persons
- Self-exclusion
- Gaming machines
- AGC premises licence conditions
- Part 22: Licensed family entertainment centres
- Introduction
- Protection of children and young persons
- Meaning of premises
- Licensed FEC premises licence conditions
- Part 23: Introduction to permits
- Part 24: Unlicensed family entertainment centres
- Introduction
- Applying for a permit
- Granting or refusing a permit
- Lapse, surrender and forfeiture
- Renewal
- Maintenance
- Part 25: Clubs
- Defining clubs
- Bingo in clubs
- Betting in clubs
- Exempt gaming
- Protection of children and young persons
- Permits
- Appeals
- Part 26: Premises licensed to sell alcohol
- Introduction
- Automatic entitlement to two machines
- Licensed premises gaming machine permits
- Exempt gaming
- Bingo
- Betting
- Commission codes of practice
- Scotland
- Protection of children and young persons
- Prohibited gaming
- Part 27: Prize gaming and prize gaming permits
- Part 28: Non-commercial and private gaming, betting and lotteries
- Introduction
- Non-commercial gaming
- Private gaming
- Private betting
- Incidental lotteries
- Non-commercial ‘casino night’
- Non-commercial race night
- Part 29: Poker
- Introduction
- Poker in casinos
- Poker as exempt gaming in clubs and alcohol licensed premises
- Poker as non-commercial gaming
- Poker as private gaming
- Advertising
- Part 30: Travelling fairs
- Part 31: Crown immunity and excluded premises
- Part 32: Territorial application of the Gambling Act 2005
- Part 33: Door supervision
- Part 34: Small society lotteries
- Small society lotteries
- The status of lotteries under the Act
- Licensing authority guidance
- Social responsibility
- External lottery managers’ licence status
- Lottery tickets
- Prizes
- Specific offences in relation to lotteries
- Application and registration process for small society lotteries
- Administration and returns
- Part 35: Chain gift schemes
- Part 36: Compliance and enforcement matters
- Fees
- Enforcement officers and authorised persons
- Powers of entry – England and Wales
- Powers of entry in Scotland
- Illegal gambling
- Test purchasing and age verification
- Primary Authority
- Prosecutions
- Other powers
- Case law, templates and case studies
- Appendix A: Summary of machine provisions by premises
- Appendix B: Summary of gaming machine categories and entitlements
- Appendix C: Summary of gaming entitlements for clubs and alcohol-licensed premises
- Appendix D: Summary of offences under the Gambling Act 2005
- Appendix E: Summary of statutory application forms and notices
- Appendix F: Inspection powers
- Appendix G: Licensing authority delegations
- Appendix H: Poker games and prizes
- Appendix I: Glossary of terms
Appendix E: Summary of statutory application forms and notices
Licensing authority forms are available on the website.
List of prescribed forms
Application
- Application for a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005 (standard form)
- Application for a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005 (vessel)
- Notice of application for a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005 (to be published)
- Notice of application for a premises licence (Form A) (for responsible authorities)
- Notice of application for a premises licence (Form B) (for responsible authorities)
- Summary of the Terms and Conditions of a premises licence
- Premises licence
- Notice of a grant of an application for a premises licence
- Annex A – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be attached)
- Annex B – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be excluded)
- Annex C – form to accompany notice of grant (representations)
- Notice of rejection of an application for a premises licence.
Variation
- Application to vary a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005
- Notice of Application to vary a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005 (to be published)
- Notice of Application to vary a premises licence (Form A) (for responsible authorities)
- Notice of Application to vary a premises licence (Form B) (for responsible authorities)
- Notice of grant of an application to vary a premises licence
- Annex A – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be attached)
- Annex B – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be excluded)
- Annex C – form to accompany notice of grant (representations)
- Notice of rejection of an application to vary a premises licence.
Review
- Application for a review of a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005
- Notice of application for a review of a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005
- Notice of application for a review of a premises licence (to the premises licence holder and responsible authorities)
- Notice of intention to hold a review of a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005
- Notice of intention to hold a review of a premises licence (to the premises licence holder)
- Notice of the decision on a review of a premises licence.
Provisional
- Application for a provisional statement under the Gambling Act 2005 (standard form)
- Notice of application for a provisional statement under the Gambling Act 2005
- Application for a provisional statement under the Gambling Act 2005 (vessel)
- Notice of application for a provisional statement (Form A) (for responsible authorities)
- Notice of application for a provisional statement (Form B) (for responsible authorities)
- Provisional statement
- Notice of grant of an application for a provisional statement
- Annex A – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be attached)
- Annex B – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be excluded)
- Annex C – form to accompany notice of grant (representations)
- Notice of rejection of an application for a provisional statement.
Transfer
- Application to transfer a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005
- Notice of application to transfer a premises licence (Form A) (for responsible authorities)
- Notice of application to transfer a premises licence (Form B) (for responsible authorities)
- Summary of terms and conditions of a premise licence
- Premises Licence
- Notice of grant of an application to transfer a premises licence
- Annex A – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be attached)
- Annex B – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be excluded)
- Annex C – form to accompany notice of grant (representations)
- Notice of rejection of an application to transfer a premises licence.
Reinstatement
- Application for the reinstatement of a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005
- Notice of application of the reinstatement of a premises licence (Form A)
- Notice of application of the reinstatement of a premises licence (Form B)
- Summary of terms and conditions of a premise licence
- Premises Licence
- Notice of grant of an application for the reinstatement of a premises licence
- Annex A – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be attached)
- Annex B – form to accompany notice of grant (conditions to be excluded)
- Annex C – form to accompany notice of grant (representations)
- Notice of the rejection of an application for the reinstatement of a premises licence.
Temporary Use Notices
- Gambling Act 2005 – Temporary Use Notice (for premises other than vessels)
- Gambling Act 2005 – Temporary Use Notice (vessel)
- Counter Notice (given in response to a temporary use notice).
Permits /lottery
- Application Form for Club Gaming Permit or Club Machine Permit
- Registration of Small Society Lotteries (Application form for registration of non-commercial society)
- Club Gaming Permit
- Club Machine Permit
- Prize Gaming Permit
- Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permit
- Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit.
Appendix D: Summary of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 Next section
Appendix F: Inspection powers
Last updated: 14 September 2023
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