Gambling Act 2005

Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005, which came into force on 1 September 2007, details the procedures in place for gambling. Licensing Authorities have various regulatory functions in relation to gambling.

Statement of Policy

The Council's statement of Policy, which we are required to produce under the Gambling Act 2005 can be downloaded in PDF format below. The policy sets out how we intend to undertake our duties in administering the Act.

Licensing Objectives

The Act contains three licensing objectives, which underpin the functions that the Gambling Commission and councils acting in their capacity as licensing authorities will perform. These objectives are central to the new regulatory regime created by the Act and are:

  • 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

Three types of licence are required by the new Act:

  • Operator Licence - concerned with the management and conduct of gambling.
  • Personal Licence - for persons with key operational functions connected with the gambling business.
  • Premises Licence - for the property where the gambling takes place.

Operators and Personal Licences will be issued and regulated by the Gambling Commission and responsibility for the issue and regulation of Premises Licences will be given to local authorities.

Main Functions

The main functions of licensing authorities are:

  • Licensing premises for gambling activities
  • Considering notices given for the temporary use of premises for gambling
  • 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
  • Considering occasional use notices for betting at tracks
  • Registering small societies’ lotteries.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is a Licensing Authority for the purposes of the Gambling Act 2005. The Gambling Commission will have responsibility for dealing with personal licences and operating licences.

Further Information