Cookies on the Gambling Commission website

The Gambling Commission website uses cookies to make the site work better for you. Some of these cookies are essential to how the site functions and others are optional. Optional cookies help us remember your settings, measure your use of the site and personalise how we communicate with you. Any data collected is anonymised and we do not set optional cookies unless you consent.

Set cookie preferences

You've accepted all cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Skip to main content

Guidance

Guidance to licensing authorities

The Gambling Commission's guidance for licensing authorities.

Contents


1 - Introduction

4.1. Licensing authorities (as defined in s.2 of the Act) are responsible for local gambling regulation and the Act gives them responsibility for a number of regulatory functions in relation to gambling activities. These include:

  • issuing a statement of licensing policy (policy statement) setting expectations about how gambling will be regulated in the area
  • responsibility for licensing gambling premises
  • the issue of permits to family entertainment centres (FEC) for the use of certain lower stake gaming machines
  • granting permits for prize gaming
  • registering society lotteries that fall below certain thresholds
  • regulating members’ clubs and miners’ welfare institutes which undertake certain gaming activities
  • setting and collecting fees.

4.2. The Act also provides a system of temporary and occasional use notices. These authorise premises that are not licensed generally for gambling purposes to be used for certain types of gambling, for limited periods. Part 14 of this guidance and Part 15 of this guidance provide more information on temporary and occasional use notices.

4.3. In exercising their statutory functions, licensing authorities have a broad discretion in regulating the local provision of gambling through the wide ranging powers at their disposal, including:

  • issuing a statement of licensing policy, setting expectations about how gambling will be regulated in a particular area
  • granting, refusing and attaching conditions to premises licences
  • reviewing premises licences and attaching conditions or revoking them as a result.
Next section
Statutory framework
Is this page useful?
Back to top