A to Z Index

Gambling Act 2005

The Act

The Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) replaces most of the existing law about gambling in Great Britain with a more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation.

The Act removes from licensing justices all responsibility for granting gaming and betting permissions.  Instead, the Gambling Commission and the Licensing Authorities will share responsibility for all those matters previously regulated by the licensing justices.

The Act gives Licensing Authorities a number of regulatory functions in relation to gambling. Their main functions are to:

  • licence premises for gambling activities;
  • consider notices given for temporary use of premises for gambling;
  • grant permits for gaming and gaming machines in clubs;
  • regulate gaming and gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises;
  • grant permits to family entertainment centres for the use of lower stake gaming machines;
  • grant permits for prize gaming;
  • consider occasional use notices for betting at tracks; and
  • register small societies’ lotteries.

Licence and Permit Holders, Licensing Authorities and other agencies must all work to promote the three gambling licensing objectives:

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

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Application Forms

Premises Licence

For premises wishing to provide facilities for a casino, adult gaming centre, family entertainment centre, bingo hall, betting office or racetrack.

Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre Permit

For premises wishing to provide Category D gaming machines.

Prize Gaming Permit

For premises wishing to provide prize gaming.

Licensed Premises Gaming Machines
Club Machine Permit
Club Gaming Permit 

 

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Fees

Premises Licence
 
New Small Casino
Bingo
Betting - not on course
Track Betting (on course)
Adult Gaming Centre
Family Entertainment Centre
Temporary
Use
Notice

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

New Application

8000

1534

1534

1534

1534

1534

500

New Application - with Provisional Statement

3000

444

444

444

444

444

 

Provisional Statement

8000

1534

1534

1534

1534

1534

 

Transfer

1534

1200

1200

950

1200

950

 

Reinstatement

1534

1200

1200

950

1200

950

 

Variation

1534

1534

1500

1250

1000

1000

 

Annual Fees

5000

438

438

438

438

438

 



Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre and Prize Gaming Permit
 
Unlicensed Family
Entertainment Centre
Prize Gaming Permit

 

£

£

Conversion

100

100

New

300

300

Change of Name

25

25



Gaming Machines and Club Gaming
 
Alcohol Licensed Premises
Alcohol Licensed Premises
Club Premises
Club Premises

 

Notification (maximum of 2 machines)
Machine Permit (3 or more Category C or D machines)
Club Gaming Permit (Gaming plus a maximum of 3 Category B4, C or D machines) 10 years
Club Machine Permit (maximum of 3 Category B4, C or D machines) 10 years
 

£

£

£

£

Continuation (Fast Track)

50

100

100 (no time limit)

100 (no time limit)

New

50

150

200

200

Annual Fee

0

50

50

50

Variation

 

100

100

100

Transfer

25

25

25

25

Change of Name

25

25

25

25

Copy of Permit

15

15

15

15



 

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Statement of Principles

The Council (as the Licensing Authority for the purposes of the above Act) is required to produce, at least every three years, a statement of the principles it proposes to apply when exercising its functions under the Act.

At its meeting on 23 November 2006, the Council approved its Statement of Principles for the three year period commencing on 31 January 2007.

On 19 November 2009 the Council approved a revised Statement of Principles.  The publication follows a 12 week consultation period on a draft of the document which ended on 31 August 2009.   The revised Statement of Principles will be published on 10 December 2009 and will come into effect on 14 January 2010.

The revised Statement of Principles can be viewed below:

It can also be viewed at Council offices at 9 -10 Bath Street, Bath between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday or at the Council’s Public Access points at:

  • The Guildhall, Bath;
  • Riverside, Keynsham;
  • The Hollies, Midsomer Norton; and
  • Bath Central, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton Public Libraries.

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Responsible Authorities

Responsible authorities are public bodies that must be notified of all applications and are entitled to make representations to the licensing authority if they are relevant to the licensing objectives.  Section 157 of the Act defines those as:

  • A Licensing Authority in whose area the premises is situated;
  • The Gambling Commission;
  • The Police;
  • The Fire Service;
  • The Local Planning Authority;
  • The Environmental Protection Team;
  • A body designated by the local authority to advise about the protection of children from harm;
  • HM Revenue and Customs.

Section 211 (4) of the Act provides that in relation to a vessel, but to no other premises, responsible authorities should also include navigation authorities within the meaning of Section 221 of the Water Resources Act 1991 that have functions in relation to the waters where the vessel is usually moored or berthed or in any waters where it is proposed to be navigated at a time when it is used for licensable activities.  These would include:

  • The Environment Agency;
  • The British Waterways Board;
  • The Secretary of State acting through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The Responsible Authorities in Bath and North East Somerset are:

Licensing Services
Environmental and Consumer Services
9-10 Bath Street
Bath
BA1 1SN
licensing@bathnes.gov.uk

The Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B1 4BP
info@gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Liquor Licensing Bureau
PO Box 2781
Bristol
BS1 2AS
liquorlicensing@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk

Avon Fire and Rescue
Temple Back
Bristol
BS1 6EU
licensing2003@avonfire.gov.uk

Environmental Health Protection Manager
9-10 Bath Street
Bath
BA1 1SN
environmental_protection@bathnes.gov.uk

Planning Services
Trimbridge House
Bath
BA1 2DP
development_control@bathnes.gov.uk

Local Safeguarding Children Board
PO Box 3343
Bath
BA1 2ZH
child_protection@bathnes.gov.uk

HM Revenue & Customs
National Registration Unit
Portcullis House
21 India Street
Glasgow
G2 4PZ
nrubetting&gaming@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

If the premises is a boat the following are also Responsible Authorities:

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Cardiff Marine Office
Anchor Court
Keen Road
Cardiff
CF24 5JW
nick.sheldon@mcga.gov.uk

The Environment Agency
South West Regional Office
Manley House
Kestrel Way
Exeter
EX2 7LQ
enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

The British Waterways Board
South West Office
Harbour House
West Quay
The Dock
Gloucester
GL1 2LG
enquiries.southwest@britishwaterways.co.uk

Further Information and Guidance

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has produced a number of guidance notes and leaflets which you may find useful.  The following link will take you directly to the relevant page on their website http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Gambling_racing/QuickLinks/Publications/.

Guidance Notes

 

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