A Premises Licence, issued under the Gambling Act 2005, is required for any premises where it is intended to provide gambling facilities.
Each premises is distinguished by the primary gambling activity.
The types of Licence available are as follows:
- Casino Premises Licence
- Bingo Premises Licence
- Adult Gaming Centre Premises Licence (for Category B3,B4,C and D machines)
- Family Entertainment Centre Premises Licence (for Category C and D machines)
- Betting Premises Licence (including tracks and premises used by betting intermediaries)
Except in the case of a track, a Premises Licence may not authorise the use of premises for activities of more than one of the types listed above.
Who can apply for a Gambling Act Premises Licence?
An application for a Premises Licence may only be made by persons (which includes companies or partnerships):
- Who have the right to occupy the premises; and
- Who have an Operating Licence which allows him/her to carry out the proposed activity, or have applied for an Operating Licence (the Premises Licence may only be issued once the Operating Licence has been issued) from the Gambling Commission.
An applicant for a Premises Licence must be over the age of 18.
The application must be accompanied by :
- The correct fee -
Gambling premises fees - The prescribed documents (a scaled plan of the premises)
| Information | Application forms |
|---|---|
|
Gambling premises licence guidance notes |
Application for grant of a premise licence |
|
Responsible authorities - listing of the authorities that your application must be sent to |
Application for a provisional statement |
|
Plan information - how you need to submit your plan with your application |
Application premises licence vessel |
|
Application for a provisional statement vessel |
You are required to notify the relevant responsible authorities when you apply for a gambling premises licence. You can do this in the form of a notice which is explained in the information articles below.
If you don't have a premises licence and want to carry out licensable activities you can apply for temporary and occasional use notices.
Temporary use notices:
Part 9 of the Gambling Act sets out the position in relation to Temporary Use Notices. These allow the use of premises for gambling where there is no premises licence but where a gambling operator wishes to use the premises temporarily for providing facilities for gambling. Premises which might be suitable for a temporary use notice include hotels, conference centres and sporting venues.
Temporary use notice for premises
Occasional use notices:
Section 39 of the Gambling Act 2005 provides that where there is betting on a track on eight days or less in a calendar year, betting may be permitted by an occasional use notice without the need for a full premises licence. The process is different to that for a Temporary Use Notice.
Occasional track use notice
