Welcome to Business
Gambling Act 2005
The Gambling Act 2005 introduces a new
regulator for gambling called the
Gambling Commission which replaces the
Gaming Board for Great Britain. The Act
is due to come into full effect in
September 2007.
The National Lottery is not affected by the new Gambling Act.
Currently, both the Council and the local Magistrates Court deal with various types of gaming. The Act transfers responsibility for the licensing of gambling premises to the Council. Premises that require a licence include bingo halls, betting offices, adult gaming centres, licensed family entertainment centres and permits for gaming machines in pubs and other alcohol licensed premises. It also includes casinos and racetracks but there are no such premises in Knowsley.
The National Lottery is not affected by the new Gambling Act.
Currently, both the Council and the local Magistrates Court deal with various types of gaming. The Act transfers responsibility for the licensing of gambling premises to the Council. Premises that require a licence include bingo halls, betting offices, adult gaming centres, licensed family entertainment centres and permits for gaming machines in pubs and other alcohol licensed premises. It also includes casinos and racetracks but there are no such premises in Knowsley.
The Licensing Objectives
The Gambling Act 2005 contains three licensing objectives which are central to the new licensing regime. The licensing objectives are:- 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.
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
Types of Licences
Three types of licence are required by the new Act:- Operator Licence concerned with the management and conduct of gambling.
- Personal Licence for persons with key operational functions connected with the gambling business.
- Premises Licence for the property where the gambling takes place.
The responsibility for the issue and
regulation of Premises Licences will be
with the Council (the Licensing
Authority). Operators and Personal
Licences will be issued and regulated
by the Gambling Commission.
Details on the existing types of licences and the new types of licences can be found in the table at the bottom of this page.
Details on the existing types of licences and the new types of licences can be found in the table at the bottom of this page.
Our Statement of Gambling Policy
Under the Act the Licensing Authority must produce a Gambling Policy which sets out how applications for the various type of gambling activities will be considered. The Policy can be found in the attachments box at the bottom of this page.Further information on the Gambling Act 2005
The Act is intended to be fully operational from September 2007. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published the dates and milestones form implementation on its website (see related links below).In the meantime the existing arrangements for the licensing of gambling will continue in operation.
| Existing Permissions | New Permissions |
| Betting: | |
| Bookmakers Permit (Magistrates Court) | Operators Licence (Gambling Commission) |
| Betting Office Premises Licence (Magistrates Court) | Betting Premises Licence (Local Authorities) |
| On Course Betting Permit (Magistrates Court) | Occasional Permit (Local Authorities) |
| Bingo: | |
| Certificate of Consent (Gambling Commission) | Operators Licence (Gambling Commission) |
| Bingo Licence (Magistrates Court) | Bingo Premises Licence (Local Authorities) |
| Casinos: | |
| Certificate of Consent (Gambling Commission) | Operators Licence (Gambling Commission) |
| Casino Licence (Magistrates Court) | Casino Premises Licence (Local Authorities) |
| Arcades: | |
| Section 34 Permit (Local Authorities) | Operators Licence (Gambling Commission) |
| Section 16 Permit (Local Authorities) | Premises Licence (Family Entertainment Centre and Adult Gaming Centre) |
| Pernit for Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre | |
| Lotteries: | |
| Small Society Lotteries (Local Authorities) | Small Society Lotteries (Local Authorities) |
| Pubs: | |
| Section 34 (5E) Permits (Local Authorities) | Automatic entitlement to 2 machines (notification to Local Authority). Permit application for >2 machines to Local Authority. |
| Clubs: | |
| Part 2 Registration Gambling Act 1968 (Magistrates Court) | Club Gaming Permit (Local Authorities) |
| Possibly via Licensing Act 2003 (on-) premises licence for alcohol (Local Authorities) | Club Gaming Machine Permit (Local Authorities) |
| Prize Gaming* | |
| Section 16 Permit (Local Authorities) | Prize Gaming Permit (Local Authorities) |
Attachments
Gambling Policy 2005 (PDF 821KB)Related Links
- The Department of Culture, Media and Sport
http://www.culture.gov.uk (Opens in new window) - The Gambling Commission
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ (Opens in new window)
Who to Contact
Licensing Section
Telephone: 0151 443 3038
Write to or Visit:
Computer Centre,
Westmorland Road,
Huyton,
Merseyside
L36 9YU
Email: licensing@knowsley.gov.uk
Telephone: 0151 443 3038
Write to or Visit:
Computer Centre,
Westmorland Road,
Huyton,
Merseyside
L36 9YU
Email: licensing@knowsley.gov.uk
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