Gambling

The Gambling Act 2005 (2005 Act) came in to force on 1st September 2007. The act repealed the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963, the Gaming Act 1968 and the Lotteries and Amusement Act 1976. The 2005 Act covers two main activities:

• Providing facilities for gambling
• Using premises for gambling

The 2005 Act contains three licensing objectives that underpin the legislation:

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

The 2005 Act transferred the responsibility for granting gaming and betting permissions from Licensing Justices to licensing authorities in relation to the licensing and regulation of the use of gambling premises.

The 2005 Act empowers the Licensing Authority to process, determine and enforce the following permissions/authorisations:

• Premises Licences 
  
  -  Casino’s,
  
  -  Betting Shops,
  
  -  Adult Gaming Centres,
  
  -  Family Entertainment Centres,
  
  -  Bingo, and,
  
  -  Track Betting
  
  
• Permits
  
  -  Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres,
  
  -  Club gaming permits
  
  -  Club machine permits
  
  -  Alcohol licensed premises gamining Machine Permits
  
  -  Prize gaming permits
  
  
• Lotteries
  
  -  Small society lotteries
  
  
• Notices
  
  -  Temporary Use Notices
  
  -  Occasional Use Notices

For advice on what the requirements are to apply for a licence, permit, notification or notice please contact the Licensing Hotline on 020 7641 8549 or email gambling@westminster.gov.uk