Gambling Act 2005

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is the Licensing Authority pursuant to the Gambling Act 2005 and is responsible for considering a range of licence and permit applications and variations to licences for premises where gambling activities take place. Licensed premises include betting shops, bingo premises, family entertainment centres, adult gaming centres, track betting premises and premises that provide gaming machines.

The council’s aim is to ensure gambling is conducted in a fair and open way whilst ensuring the protection of vulnerable people. The Act has three policy objectives which the council will do its duty to uphold. Each is given equal weight:

• preventing gambling from being a source of crime or 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 from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Social responsibility remains the top priority - protection of the public, especially children and the vulnerable.

The Act is also supported by close, open and consultative working with all stakeholders - the industry; faith, belief and community groups; researchers; those dealing day to day with problem gamblers.

Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act

The council has a Gambling Licensing Policy called a Statement of Principles which sets out this authority’s approach to the licensing and administration of gambling licences under the Gambling Act 2005. A copy can be viewed and downloaded below. We recommend that all applicants read this policy before submitting an application.

New applicants are required to undertake and provide risk assessments in respect of the premises licence applications. Guidance on the relevant Local Area Profile for Basingstoke and Deane and producing risk assessments can be found at Appendix E of the Statements of Principles.

Safeguards

The Act introduces a number of safeguards against problem and child gambling such as:

• Restrictions have been placed on the gambling facilities permitted under different premises licences.
• Provision has been made for only one regional casino.
• There will be a three year trial of eight large casinos and eight small casinos before more can be licensed.
• All gambling operators will be required to abide by statutory codes of social responsibility.
• Promoting gambling to children, permitting children to gamble and allowing children into gambling premises have become offences.
• With certain exceptions, it is an offence for children to gamble or enter gambling premises.
• The Commission will publish a gambling prevalence report every three years.
• Premises licence conditions will be set by licensing authorities and Government.
• Licensing authorities will be responsible for regulating some lower stake operations and small society lotteries.
• Local authorities will be able to pass a motion as part of their planning policies vetoing new casinos in their area.

Complaints

There may be occasions when a customer or local resident is concerned that the policy objectives are not being met by a licensed premises and/or licensees and wishes to report this to the council.

Make a licensing complaint

The Licensing Team will investigate and take appropriate action.

Licence fees

View current fees for Gambling Act 2005 licences. Most fees can be paid online through our secure online payments method, please see the relevant licence webpage for further information.

Enforcement Policy

We aim to protect the safety and welfare of people, who may be exposed to risks from the way that licensable activities are carried out, and to protect the interests of those that could be adversely affected by such activities when carried out by unlicensed individuals/companies/organisations.

Occasionally it is necessary for us to take enforcement action where informal approaches do not result in improved standards. The Council has adopted the principles of the Central and Local Government Concordat on Good Enforcement and due regard, where appropriate, will be given to guidance issued by the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulators Services and Department of Culture, Media and Sports.

A copy of the Licensing Enforcement Policy is available by clicking on the link below.