Gambling Act 2005

 

Gambling Legislation has changed, and if you currently hold any form of bingo, betting shop, amusements with prizes, gaming machines permit including those in alcohol and club premises or a small society lottery these changes will affect you.

The new Act came into force in September 2007. In preparation, each licensing authority has developed, consulted on and published a statement of its licensing policy. The statement must set out the principles that the authority proposes to apply in exercising its licensing functions under the new the Act.

The Gambling Act 2005 promotes three key objectives to enable more freedom for business operators and customers, while clamping down on crime and disorder and protecting children and the vulnerable. These are:

• Preventing gambling 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, and
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Gambling commission will be responsible for granting operating and personal licences for commercial gambling while this authority will licence the gambling premises in the Hertsmere Borough. The Commission has an overriding obligation to pursue and have regard to the objectives, and to permit gambling so far as it thinks it is reasonably consistent with those objectives.

 You are welcome to comment by letter, fax or email. Please mark comments for the attention of:

Mr P Andrews Principal Licensing Officer Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices Elstree Way Borehamwood Herts WD6 1WA phil.andrews@hertsmere.gov.uk Fax: 0208 207 7436

Click here to go to The Gambling Commission website

According to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 all information contained in any response including personal information may be subject to publication or disclosure. Where respondents request that the information given in response to this consultation be kept confidential, this will only be possible if it is consistent with freedom of information obligations.

Please be aware that these changes are both new and complicated and will place considerable burdens on the Local Authority and officers will be unable to offer detailed business specific advice. However we will do our best to assist with other questions where possible.

How much will it cost for an application?

Please click here for licence fees. (Please note these fees where correct at time of publication and are subject to change at any time)