Statement of licensing policy for gambling

Ealing Council as Licensing Authority has now finalised its Statement of Licensing Policy for Gambling (pdf) as required under Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005.

This statement may be reviewed from time to time as circumstances dictate, but in any case must be reviewed after three years.

The statement was published on 22 December 2006, and should come into effect this month (January 2007), depending on government timetables.

Background
We recently completed a borough-wide consultation on our draft gambling policy. At a meeting of full Council on 12 December 2006 the statement principles were adopted. Our gambling policy provides the broad principles we intend to apply in exercising our functions under the Gambling Act 2005.

The new act will create a two-level split in who governs gambling protocol. The Gambling Commission will regulate casinos and large establishments and local authorities (Ealing Council) will be responsible for determining applications for premises licences in respect of betting offices, bingo clubs and amusement arcades. The council will also issue permits for gaming machines in members’ clubs and licensed premises. Additionally, the council will be responsible for administering ‘ temporary use notices’ and ‘occasional use notices’ and registering small society lotteries

The act has three clear objectives:

keeping gambling crime free
making sure that gambling is fair and open
protecting children and vulnerable adults from being harmed or exploited by gambling

The licensing authority cannot become involved in the moral issues relating to gambling and must aim to permit the use of premises for gambling in so far as they think it is:

in accordance with any relevant codes of practice
in accordance with any relevant guidance issued by the Gambling Commission
reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives and in accordance with the licensing authority’s statement of licensing policy

The implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 is subject to delay and it is currently expected that we may accept applications around the end of April 2007/beginning of May 2007. We await publication of government regulations, which will provide all appropriate information.

The fees for gambling premises (excel) under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 were approved at a meeting of the Full Council on 19 June 2007.

If you have any comments on the Statement of Licensing Policy for Gambling (pdf), or questions relating to applications for premises licences or permits, please direct them to:

The Licensing Team
Ealing Council, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL
Email: licensing@ealing.gov.uk

Further information
You can contact the Gambling Commission at:
Victoria House
Victoria Square, Birmingham B2 4BP
Tel: 0121 230 6500
Fax: 0121 237 2236
Email: info@gamblingcommission.gov.uk