Guidance

Guidance to licensing authorities

The Gambling Commission's guidance for licensing authorities.

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Published
1 April 2021

Last updated
26 March 2024 - 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

Changes to the Guidance for Licensing Authorities

1. April 2021 Update

   Added Part 1 - General guidance on the role and responsibilities of licensing authorities in gambling regulation - Primary legislation - 1.14 & 1.19

   Added Part 16: Gaming machines - The meaning of ‘available for use’ - 16.17, 16.18, 16.19, 16.20, 16.21, 16.22, 16.23, 16.24, 16.25 and 16.26

   Added Part 17: Casinos - Controlling where gaming machines may be played – casino - 17.58

   Added Part 18: Bingo - Gaming machines - 18.8

   Added Part 19: Betting premises - Gaming machines - 19.5

   Added Part 21: Adult gaming centres - Self-exclusion - 21.4

   Added Part 34: Small society lotteries - Application and registration process for small society lotteries - 24.29

   Added Appendix I: Glossary of terms – OPSS

   Amended Part 1: General guidance on the role and responsibilities of licensing authorities in gambling regulation: Co-ordination and contact – 1.10

   Amended Part 1: General guidance on the role and responsibilities of licensing authorities in gambling regulation: Primary legislation – 1.18

   Amended Part 2: The licensing framework – Introduction - 2.3

   Amended Part 3: The Gambling Commission - Main functions of the Commission - 3.5

   Amended Part 3: The Gambling Commission - Relationship between the Commission and licensing authorities - 3.9 and 3.10

   Amended Part 6: Licensing authority policy statement - Local risk assessments - 6.44

   Amended Part 6: Licensing authority policy statement - Consultation process - 6.58

   Amended Part 7: Premises licences - Applications - 7.41

   Amended Part 8: Responsible authorities and interested parties definitions - Responsible authorities - 8.8

   Amended Part 9: Premises licence conditions - S.179 – Pool betting - 9.16

   Amended Part 15: Occasional use notices - Introduction - 15.1

   Amended Part 15: Occasional use notices - Use (and misuse) of OUNs 15.4

   Amended Part 18: Bingo - Gaming machines - 18.8

   Amended Part 20: Tracks - Definition of a track - 20.5

   Amended Part 20: Tracks - Betting on tracks - 20.16, 20.18, 20.19 and 20.20

   Amended Part 20: Tracks - Applications - 20.55

   Amended Part 20: Tracks - Pool betting - 20.64

   Amended Part 21: Adult gaming centres - Gaming machine - 21.5

   Amended Part 24: Unlicensed family entertainment centres - Introduction - 24.2

   Amended Part 25: Clubs - Permits - 25.54

   Amended Part 29: Poker - Advertising - 29.52

   Amended Part 34: Small society lotteries - Application and registration process for small society lotteries - 34.40 and 34.41

   Amended Part 36: Compliance and enforcement matters - Powers of entry in Scotland - 36.18, 39.19 and 36.20

   Amended Part 36: Compliance and enforcement matters - Illegal gambling - 36.25

   Amended Part 36: Compliance and enforcement matters - Test purchasing and age verification - 36.32

   Amended Appendix I: Glossary of terms - DCMS changed to Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport

   Removed Part 1: General guidance on the role and responsibilities of licensing authorities in gambling regulation - Co-ordination and contact - 1.11 and 1.12

   Removed Part 13: Information exchange - Information the Commission makes available to licensing authorities - 13.18

   Removed Part 16: Gaming machines - The meaning of ‘available for use’ - 16.17, 16.18, 16.19, 16.20, 16.21 and 16.22

   Removed Part 29: Poker - Advertising - 29.53 and 29.54

   Removed Part 36: Compliance and enforcement matters - Illegal gambling - 36.22

   Removed Appendix I: Glossary of terms - BRDO

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Part 1: General guidance on the role and responsibilities of licensing authorities in gambling regulation

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Last updated: 26 March 2024

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