Gaming machine permits and notifications

When to apply for a licence

The Gambling Act 2005 allows Licensing Act 2003 Premises Licence holders or Club Premises Certificate holders to provide gaming machines and amusements with prizes on the premises.

Premises wishing to operate with Category C or D Gaming Machines under Section 282 of the Gambling Act 2005, must apply to their licensing authority for either a gaming permit or a gaming notification. 

Permits can only be used for premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises.

Whether you need to apply for a permit or notification will depend on how many gaming machines you plan to offer. 

If you plan to offer two or fewer gaming machines, then premises licensed to sell alcohol (with a bar authorised to serve drinks without food) will have an automatic entitlement to one or two gaming machines (Category C or D), subject to a simple notification procedure.

Alcohol licensed premises (with a bar authorised to serve drinks without food) will need to apply for a licensed premises gaming machine permit.

The automatic entitlement and licensed premises gaming machine permit will be of unlimited duration. Once you have it, you will not need to apply again unless your circumstances change.

Holders of licensed premises gaming machine permits will be required to pay an annual fee of £50.

If the premises licence holder under the Licensing Act 2003 changes, the permission falls and therefore a new notification must be sent to the Licensing Authority.

How to apply

You can make an application by filling in in our application form and returning it to us via email at [email protected] with the relevant fee.