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We want to hear your views on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy and Principles under the Gambling Act 2005.
We’re updating our policy which sets out how we regulate and licence businesses, this includes those that offer:
Betting - making or accepting a bet on the outcome of a race, competition, or any other event.
Bingo - including cash and prize bingo.
Use of gaming machines in gaming centres and amusement arcades, pubs and clubs.
Lotteries, raffles and prize draws where you pay in order to take place in a prize draw.
Our proposed Statement of Licensing Policy and Principles will run from January 2022. It will set out how the council makes licensing decisions and it will promote the three licensing objectives:
Ensuring gambling is kept free from crime and disorder.
Ensuring gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
Protection of children and vulnerable adults.
It also guides the administration of licensing under the Gambling Act 2005 and will assist in ensuring that an appropriate balance is drawn between the interests of those wishing to provide and take part in legal gambling, and those who might be adversely affected by such activities. We continue to work with the police, licence holders and other agencies to achieve this. The statement will also ensure that there are methods for appropriate enforcement should operators fail to uphold the standards expected of them.
The council has adopted a no casino policy, which is included in the statement. In addition we have also published a Local Area Profile highlighting the key characteristics for consideration by operators when completing applications and their local area risk assessments.
The Local Authority acting as the Licensing Authority is responsible for licensing physical premises and locations where gambling takes place. We also provide authorisations to gamble in premises where gambling is not the main activity (for example gaming machines in pubs).
There are exceptions to this, as we are not responsible for the National Lottery or any form of online gambling. These activities are regulated by the Gambling Commission.
Proposed changes to the policy:
It is not proposed to make any major changes to the current Licensing Policy which was altered substantially before publication in 2019. A revised Licensing Policy has been prepared in consideration of the Gambling Commission’s Guidance to Licensing Authorities and taking into account issues and concerns that have arisen over the life of the current policy.