Gambling Act 2005

The gambling laws in Great Britain are being updated and a new regime for the regulation of commercial gambling is being established. The new laws came into force on 1 September 2007.

The Gambling Act 2005 replaces most of the existing laws about gambling in Great Britain and puts in place an improved, more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation. It modernises 40-year-old gambling laws, ready to face the challenges of today and the future. This includes a new structure of flexible protections for children and vulnerable adults and, in particular, brings the burgeoning Internet gaming sector within British regulation for the first time.

The Gambling Act has three very clear objectives:
1. Keeping gambling crime free.
2. Making sure that gambling is fair and open; and
3. Protecting children and vulnerable adults.

Premises Licences

RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES UNDER THE GAMBLING ACT 2005

There are a number of organisations / responsible authorities that must be informed when you submit an application for a premises licence and whilst you only have to inform them when you submit your application, they can request a full copy of the application if they so wish. In all instances, you will need to keep a copy of the application that you submit to the Licensing Authority as it will be your responsibility to supply the full copy of the application to these organisations if they request it.

The organisations/responsible authorities are as follows:

Licensing Authority,
North Shropshire District Council,
Edinburgh House, New Street, WEM, Shropshire. SY4 5DB
Tel. 01939 232771 Fax. 01939 238468
Email: licensing@northshropshiredc.gov.uk

The Gambling Commission,
Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham. B2 4PB
Tel. 0121 2306546 Fax. 0121 2331096
www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

West Mercia Constabulary,
The Licensing Officer,
Police Station, Smithfield Road, MUCH WENLOCK, Shropshire. TF13 6BD
Tel. 01952 728711 Fax. 01952 728489
Email: licensing.shropshire@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service,
Brigade Headquarters, St. Michael's Street, SHREWSBURY, Shropshire. SY1 2HJ
Tel. 01743 260260 Fax. 01743 260269

Planning Department,
North Shropshire District Council, Edinburgh House, New Street, WEM, Shropshire. SY4 5DB
Tel. 01939 232771 Fax. 01939 238404

Environmental Health Department,
North Shropshire District Council, Edinburgh House, New Street, WEM, Shropshire. SY4 5DB
Tel. 01939 232771 Fax. 01939 238468

Area Child Protection Committee,
Shropshire County Council, Social Services, The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, SHREWSBURY, Shropshire. SY2 6ND
Tel. 01743 251000

HM Revenue and Customs,
National Registration Unit, Portcullis House, 21 India Street, GLASGOW. G2 4PZ
Tel. 0141 5553633
Email: Nru.betting&gaming@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

Fees

The fees set by the Licensing Authority can be found by clicking on the link.

Gambling Act Fees

Application Forms

Premises Licence - New

Premises Licence Application Form A

Premises Licence Application Form B

Provisional Statement Gambling (Standard Form)

Provisional Statement Form A

Provisional Statement Form B

Family Entertainment Centre Application

Gaming Machine Application (to be used for all applications submitted after 1 June 2007)

Prize Gaming Application

Consent Form to be a Premises Supervisor

Application for the reinstatement of a premises licence - Gambling Act 2005

Application to transfer a premises licence - Gambling Act 2005

Application to vary a premises licence - Gambling Act 2005

Lotteries Application Form - New Registration

Lotteries Application Form - Renewal of Registration

Guidance Notes

Guidance Notes for Premises Licences

Guidance Notes - Bingo

Guidance Notes - Gaming Machines

Guidance Notes - Lotteries

Small Society Lottery - Return Form

Fruit machines to be phased out of take away food shops and other non-arcade premises

From 1 August 2006, fruit machines will begin to be phased out from these premises. This is to ensure that children and other vulnerable people are not exposed to gambling in certain non-gambling premises.

It includes:

take away food shops
minicab and taxi offices
guesthouses
other non-arcade and unlicensed premises

Please note that this measure will not apply to:

pubs, clubs and other alcohol licensed premises; or
amusement arcades.

Dates

1 August 2006 - 31 July 2009

All existing permits will be allowed to run their course. However, businesses will no longer be able to operate gaming machines once their existing permit expires.

31 July 2009

All existing permits will expire on this date. It will be illegal to offer fruit machines in the premises listed above after this date.

Background

The independent Gambling Review Body recommended in 2001 that gaming machines be banned from unlicensed premises like chip shops and taxi offices so that children in particular should not be exposed to ambient gambling in premises where there may often be little supervision. This conclusion was subsequently endorsed by an all party committee of MPs that considered the draft Gambling Bill. The government accepted this recommendation and, as a result, the provision allowing for the grant of gaming machine permits for chip shops, taxi offices and similar premises was not replicated in the 2005 Act.

More details

For more details, please contact your local authority and refer to the websites of the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Gambling Commission (below).

Gambling Commission

Department for Culture Media and Sport