WBC's Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy

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licensing.unit@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Gambling Licensing Policy

The Gambling Act 2005

Worthing Borough Council's Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy

The Gambling Act 2005 received Royal Assent in April 2005 and came fully into effect on 1 September 2007. Under the Act a new licensing regime was introduced and a number of new duties were assigned to local authorities, who have taken over from the Magistrates Courts and become the Licensing Authority.

Essentially the Act creates a unified national regulator for gambling, the Gambling Commission.  The Commission grants Operating Licences, and Personal Licences, for commercial gambling operators, (including Internet gambling) and personnel working within the industry.

Worthing Borough Council now has, as the Licensing Authority, the responsibility for licensing the actual premises used for commercial gambling, including casino premises, bingo premises, betting premises, adult gaming centres, and family entertainment centres.

The Licensing Justices no longer have any responsibilities for granting gaming and betting permissions.

The Gambling Act contains three licensing objectives which underpin the functions that the Commission and the Licensing Authorities perform:

• 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.

The Act has required Licensing Authorities to prepare and publish a licensing policy statement of the principles they will apply in exercising their functions under the Act. 

The Act dictates that a policy statement will last for a maximum of three years but can be reviewed or revised by the authority at any time. Worthing Borough Council adopted the current policy on 7 January 2011 and is scheduled to fully review the policy again in 2013. 

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