The Gambling Act, 2005 creates a new system of licensing and regulation for commercial gambling in this country.  The Act has established the Gambling Commission which has taken over the functions of the Gaming Board and it gives to local authorities, new and extended responsibilities for licensing premises for gambling.  In some cases (such as gaming machine arcades and lotteries), those build on existing responsibilities.  But in other major areas, including betting, casino gaming and bingo, they transfer to local authorities responsibilities which previously lay with local licensing justices.

The Act provides for three categories of licence:

•  Operating licences

•  Personal licences

•  Premises licences

The Council will be responsible for issuing premises licences, including temporary use notices, gaming machine permits and registering society lotteries.  The Gambling Commission will be responsible for issuing operating and personal licences.

Section 1 of the Act sets out the licensing objectives which are:

•  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.   

Statement of Licensing Principles

It is anticipated that the new Act will come fully into force on 1 September, 2007.  Section 349 of the Act, requires the licensing authority to prepare and publish a statement of principles that it proposes to apply in exercising it's functions under the Act.

The statement of principles will last for a maximum of three years but can be reviewed and revised by the authority at any time. The statement must be produced following consultation with those bodies and persons set out in the Act.

Following a wide consultation process, Great Yarmouth Borough Council approved a final statement of principles at it's Full Council meeting on the 23 November 2006.

Download here:  Gambling Policy (237kb)

For further information contact
Linda Mockford
Licensing and Elections Manager
Member and Legal Department
Town Hall
Great Yarmouth
NR30 2QF