Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act, 2005 has created a new system of licensing and regulation for commercial gambling in this Country. The Act has established the Gambling Commission and has given to local authorities new responsibilities for licensing premises for gambling.

The Act provides for three categories of licence:

           • Operating licences (responsibility of Gambling Commission)
           • Personal licences (responsibility of Gambling Commission)
           • Premises licences (responsibility of Licensing Authority)

The Licensing Authority's main functions are:

            • To issue premises licences for casinos, betting offices and race tracks, bingo clubs, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres
            • To grant permits for gaming machines in members' clubs and licensed premises, prize gaming and unlicensed family entertainment centres
            • To authorise the temporary use of premises for gambling.
            • To register small society lotteries

There are three Licensing Objectives which underpin the Gambling Act:

            • Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and 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 being harmed or exploited by gambling

The Act requires Licensing Authorities to prepare and publish a Gambling Licensing Policy every three years. This policy outlines the principles which the Licensing Authority proposes to apply when exercising its functions.

Download the current Gambling Policy (237Kb) here

This policy was adopted at Council on November 2006. The next 3 year period expires on 30 January 2010 and by this date the Licensing Authority must have reviewed its gambling policy.

In light of Great Yarmouth Borough Council being awarded a large casino premises licence, in 2009 the Council reviewed the casino section of the current policy to take into account the licensing principles for the large new casino licence.

The whole gambling policy was then reviewed and a draft policy was consulted on during July to September 2009..
Download the Draft policy by clicking here (1021Kb)

During the consultation period five responses were received and these are attached here (57Kb)

These comments were taken into consideration and the gambling policy was amended where necessary and approved by full council on 29 October 2009. This policy will come into effect from 31 January 2010..

Download the revised Gambling Policy (259Kb) here
Public Notice (17Kb) of policy

For further information or to be sent application forms please contact the Licensing Section on: 01493 846530 or by using the contact details above.