What is the role of the Council in connection with the Gambling Act 2005?
The local authority is identified as a licensing authority in the Gambling Act and is required to produce its own Policy relating to gambling that will be reviewed every three years (the policy is available to view in the 'Publications' section of this website).
The Council will then license premises having regard to the guidance from the Gambling Commission and its own policy.
Persons who have obtained the appropriate operating and / or Personal licences from the Gambling Commission will identify premises where they wish to operate casino, bingo, adult gaming or betting facilities and will then seek a licence for those premises from the Council.
The Act contains a presumption that the Council will aim to permit the use of premises and that they will grant permission if the application satisfies the Commission's codes of practice, satisfies the local policy and is consistent with the licensing objectives.
The Council will be empowered to review licences and take action where premises are not operated in a proper manner.