Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 replaces most of the existing laws about gambling in Great Britain and replaces it with an improved, more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation. It transfers the responsibility for gaming premises from the Magistrates to the Licensing Authority and increases the powers of the Gambling Commission.

Licensing Public Register

The Licensing Authority's main functions are:

To issue Premises Licences for Casinos, Betting Offices and Race Tracks, Bingo Clubs, Adult Gaming Centres, and Family Entertainment Centres.
To grant Permits for Gaming Machines in members' clubs and licensed premises, Prize Gaming and Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres.
To authorise the temporary use of premises for gambling
To register Small Society Lotteries.

The Act requires Licensing Authorities to prepare and publish a Gambling Licensing Policy every three years. This policy outlines the principles which the Licensing Authority proposes to apply when exercising it's functions.

The Policy has recently been revised and was formally adopted by Council on 5 November 2012 and shall come into effect on 14 December 2012.

There are three Licensing Objectives which underpin the Gambling Act:-

To prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime;
To ensure that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way;
To protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.