Information for pubs and certain other alcohol licensed premises on changes in gambling licensing under the Gambling Act 2005
Gambling law in Great Britain has changed. On Saturday 1 September 2007, the Gambling Act 2005 came into force. This includes new rules for the provision of gaming machines and other forms of gambling in alcohol licensed premises.
A leaflet from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, below, provides information on the new permits, including how and when you will need to obtain them:
This is for premises with an alcohol licence, which have a bar at which alcohol is served for consumption on the premises, without a requirement that alcohol is served only with food.
There is a separate leaflet for club operators.
If you wish to provide two or less gaming machines:
If you wish to provide more than two gaming machines:
If you require clarification as to the application/notification procedure, contact your local licensing authority.
If you require clarification as to your status under the current legislation, or have lost your section 34 permit, you should also contact your licensing authority (or licensing magistrates in England and Wales if it was issued before November 2005).
The new law establishes several categories of gaming machines. It restricts the gaming machines that can be operated on an alcohol licensed premises to categories C and D. The level of stakes and prizes define the category of a machine.
For further information, contact the Gambling Commission.
You only need to apply for a Gambling Act 2005 permit when your 1968 Act permit is due to expire.
Automatic entitlement:
You must pay a one off fee of £50 when you submit your notification to the licensing authority.
Licensed premises gaming machine permit:
When you apply for your GamblingAct 2005 permit, you will have to pay an application fee of £100 for operators who have a section 34 permit (£150 for those who do not).
You must also pay an annual fee of £50. The first annual fee is to be paid within 30 days of the date your permit takes effect.
After that, the annual fee will be paid before the anniversary of the date your permit takes effect.
For example, if your permit is issued on 30 September 2007, you will pay £50 for the first year of your permit by 29 October 2007. You will then pay another £50 by 30 September 2008 for the second year of your permit.
Continuation rights – allow you to continue operating while your application for a Gambling Act 2005 permit is being determined.
Grandfather rights – guarantee that an alcohol licensed premises with a permit under the existing legislation will be granted a permit for the same number of gaming machines under the 2005 Act.
Your existing section 34 permit will continue to have effect after 1 September 2007 as if it were a licensed premises gaming machine permit issued under the new Act. You will continue to be entitled to offer the same number of gaming machines that your Section 34 permit entitled you to offer.
It is important to note that from 1 September 2007, you will be required to abide by the new legislation, regulations and relevant Gambling Commission codes of practice which are available via the Commission’s website.
For further information on permits contact your licensing authority.
For information on codes of practice and general gambling queries contact the Gambling Commission – www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk (External website**) or 0121 230 6666.
For other information relating to the Gambling Act 2005 and the implementation of the Act contact the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – www.culture.gov.uk. (External website**)
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.