Gambling Act 2005
This section of the website is divided into the following sections. Please click the appropriate link:
- Gambling Act 2005 Fees
- Gambling Act 2005 Applications
- Public Register (View up to date information on current licences and applications undergoing consultation)
- Gambling Act Statement of Principles
Background to the act
Similar to the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005 gives Cheshire West and Chester Council responsibilities for regulating and enforcing laws for gambling in Great Britain. The Gambling Act 2005 has three main objectives:
- 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
It also brought the burgeoning internet gaming sector within British regulation for the first time. A new independent regulatory body was created; the Gambling Commission, which is now the national regulator for commercial gambling in Great Britain.
The Act replaced the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1963, the Gaming Act of 1968 and the Lotteries and Amusements Act of 1976. In their place it created three seperate categories of licence:
- Operating licences
- Personal licences
- Premises licences
The Gambling Commision
The Commission came about as a result of the Act and regulates gaming and certain lotteries.
The Gambling Commission grants operating and personal licences for commercial gambling and people working in the industry. It will also regulate certain lottery managers and promoters.
The Council as a Licensing Authority Licensing Authorities are responsible for:
- Licensing premises for gambling (casino, bingo and betting premises - including tracks, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres). The Act requires that (except in the case of tracks) only persons holding or have applied for an operating licence from the Gambling Commission may apply to the council for a premises licence
- Adminsitering Temporary Use Notices (notices given for the temporary use of premises for gambling purposes)
- Granting permits for gaming and gaming machines in clubs and miners' welfare institutes
- Regulating gaming and gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises
- Granting permits to family entertainment centres for the use of certain lower stake gaming machines
- Granting permits for prize gaming
- Adminsitering occasional use notices for betting at tracks
- Registering small societies lotteries
Guidance and advice
If you need any guidance concerning the Gambling Act 2005, please feel free to contact your local Licensing Team.
New Gambling Act statement of principles
The Licensing Authority of Cheshire West and Chester has published a Statement of Principles which came into force on 1 April 2009. To view the new document, follow the link: New Statement of Principles.