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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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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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 |
|
|
|
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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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 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.
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
