Gambling Act 2005
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The Gambling Act 2005 changed the law on gambling. The Act regulates all gambling in Great Britain, other than the National Lottery and spread betting. The Act became law on 7 April 2005 and should be fully in place on 1 September 2007.
The Licensing Authority published its Statement of Principles (a policy) on 20 December 2006, which will come into force on 31 January 2007. To view the document, please visit the Statement of Principles web page.
The Gambling Act 2005 covers three types of licence:
- Operating licences
- Personal licences
- Premises licences
The Act replaces the:
- Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963.
- Gaming Act 1968.
- Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976.
The Act contains three licensing aims:
- Stop gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being linked with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime.
- Make sure that gambling happens in a fair and open way.
- Protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
The Gambling Commision
The Gambling Commission came about as a result of the Act. It has taken over from the Gaming Board for Great Britain. It now carries out the role which used to be done by the Gaming Board, such as regulating gaming and certain lotteries.
From 2007, the Commission will grant operating and personal licences for commercial gambling and people working in the industry. it will also regulate certain lottery managers and promoters. Do you want to know more? Have a look on the Gambling Commission's web site.
Gambling and the Council
The Gambling Act 2005 gives local councils a number of important roles related to gambling. The main ones are to:
- Licence premises for gambling (casino, bingo and betting premises - including tracks, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres).
- Look at notices given for the temporary use of premises for gambling.
- Grant permits for gaming and gaming machines in clubs and miners' welfare institutes.
- Regulate gaming and gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises.
- Grant permits to family entertainment centres for the use of certain lower stake gaming machines.
- Grant permits for prize gaming.
- Look at occasional use notices for betting at tracks.
- Register small societies lotteries.
- The Act says that (except in the case of tracks) only people who hold, or have applied for an operating licence from the Gambling Commission may apply to the council's licensing authority for a premises licence.
Responsible Authorities
Please click here to view names and contact details of the Responsible Authorities![(PDF [22.6Kb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
under the Gambling Act 2005.
Annual Fees
On 30 April 2007 the Council's Licensing and Gambling Committee set the levels of fees to be charged for premises Licences and annual fees. A table of the fees may be viewed here. Please click here to view the table of fees.
Find Out More about the Gambling Act 2005
Do you want to know more about the Gambling Act 2005? Please visit the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) web site. The site also gives some answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).
DCMS has produced two useful guides on the new legislation called New Gambling Act Explained for the information of Local Residents and Councillors. Both guides may be accessed here.
If you have any queries or questions regarding the Gambling Act 2005, then the Licensing Unit will be pleased to assist you and may be contacted at:
The Licensing Unit
Liverpool City Council
Room 219 Municipal Buildings
Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 2DH
T - 0151 233 3015
F - 0151 225 3493
E - licensing@liverpool.gov.uk