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GAMBLING ACT 2005

Arcades and Gaming Permits

Betting Premises

Bingo Premises

Small Society Lotteries (raffles to raise money for a charity)

What are the three gambling licensing objectives?

Application forms

Explanatory notes for residents (PDF 266KB>>)

Explanatory notes for councillors (PDF 268KB>>)

Public register of gambling premises>> (opens a new window)

HBC 's Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (PDF 324KB>>)

Gambling Commission website for operator and personal licences>> (opens a new window)

Department for Culture, Media and Sport website for further information on the Gambling Act >> (opens a new window)

Arcades and Gaming permits

There are 3 types of arcade: AGC s, licensed FEC s and unlicensed FEC s.

To operate as an AGC or a licensed FEC you will need to apply for the appropriate operator and personal licence from the Gambling Commission. You will also need to obtain a premises licence from the Licensing Department.

To operate as an unlicensed FEC you will need to apply for a permit from the Licensing Department.

Betting Premises

To operate a betting shop you will need to apply for the appropriate operator and personal licence from the Gambling Commission. You will also need to obtain a premises licence from the Licensing Department.

Bingo Premises

To operate a bingo hall you will need to apply for the appropriate operator and personal licence from the Gambling Commission. You will also need to obtain a premises licences from the Licensing Department.

Small Society Lotteries (raffles to raise money for a charity)

Whether a licence is required depends on whether the proposed event is

considered a lottery and to whom and where tickets will be sold. A lottery is a

game of chance used to raise money for a club, society or charity and it is an

offence to run one without a licence. Money raised must be for good causes

and not for private or commercial gain. Please follow this link for further details>>

What are the three gambling licensing objectives?

The Gambling Act 2005 requires each licensing authority, along with the Gambling Commission, to carry out it's duties with a view to promoting three licensing objectives. These are:

Preventing gambling from being a source of, or 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 persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

These objectives, which are of equal importance, comprise the basis on which the licensing authority determines what is in the overall public interest when carrying out its functions.