Guidance

Guidance to licensing authorities

The Gambling Commission's guidance for licensing authorities.

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Published
1 April 2021

Last updated
14 September 2023 - Changes

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Contents

• Guidance to licensing authorities

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• 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
• • Introduction
  • Statutory framework
  • Licensing authority decisions
• 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
• • Introduction
  • Responsible authorities
  • Interested parties
• 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
• • Introduction
• Part 12: Rights of appeal and judicial review
• • Introduction
  • Giving reasons for decisions
  • Permits
  • Temporary use notices
  • 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
• • Introduction
  • Procedure
  • Appeals
  • Endorsement of the notice
  • Large events
• Part 15: Occasional use notices
• • Introduction
  • What constitutes a track
  • Use (and misuse) of OUNs
  • Procedure
• 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
• • Introduction
• 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
• • Prize gaming
  • Application for a 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
• • Introduction
• Part 31: Crown immunity and excluded premises
• • Crown immunity and excluded premises
• Part 32: Territorial application of the Gambling Act 2005
• • Territorial application of the Gambling Act 2005
• Part 33: Door supervision
• • 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
• • Introduction
  • Street collectors selling game cards
• 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.
  

Previous section
Appendix D: Summary of offences under the Gambling Act 2005 Next section
Appendix F: Inspection powers

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Last updated: 14 September 2023

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