You must apply for licences if your business is a:
- betting track or other type of racing track
- bingo
- casino
- adult gaming centre
- family entertainment centre.
The licences you will need to apply for and obtain are:
- a personal licence from the Gambling Commission, and
- an operators licence from the Gambling Commission, and
- a premises licence from us.
Betting shop
As well as bets being placed at the counter, a betting shop can have up to four gaming machines of category B2, B3, B4, C or D.
Bingo
A bingo hall requires a bingo licence. There are two types of bingo:
- Cash bingo: stakes make up the cash prizes that can be won
- Prize bingo: various forms of prizes are won, not directly related to the stakes paid.
A bingo premises can also make available for use up to four category B3 or B4 machines and any number of category C and D machines.
If bingo is provided in a pub:
- you can only provide bingo on alcohol licensed premises
- no profit can be made from the bingo itself. This means pubs cannot charge a fee for participating in bingo, nor can they take a cut from either the money paid to play bingo or from the prize amounts awarded
- it must be possible for bingo players to gain entry to the premises without paying an admission fee. This is because admission fees to premises where bingo takes place are treated as participation fees which incur a profit
- all stakes for bingo games must be returned as prizes, for example; if a pub raises £500 in total from all bingo players, it must return the whole £500 in prizes
- the maximum stake a pub can charge is £5 per person per game
- the chances of winning a prize must be equally favourable to all players
- pubs cannot link up the bingo games with other bingo games taking place on a different set of premises
- no person under the age of 18 can be allowed to play. Pubs must ensure controls are in place to prevent underage gambling
- pubs will need to notify the Gambling Commission and may need to apply for an operating licence. If the bingo involves more than £2,000 in stakes or award more than £2,000 in prizes within any seven day period.
Casino
Section 7(1) of the Gambling Act 2005 states that "a casino is an arrangement whereby people are given an opportunity to participate in one or more casino games".
Casino games are defined by the Act to mean a game of chance which is not equal chance gaming. Equal chance gaming is gaming which does not involve playing or staking against a bank and where the chances are equally favourable to all participants.
There are three categories of casino premises licences that may be issued under the Act; regional, large and small casinos. The numbers and categories of gaming machines permitted in a casino depends on the category of the casino.
Adult gaming centre
These are amusement arcades that offer higher pay out gaming machines. They are strictly for adults over 18 years of age and children are not allowed on the premises. These centres can offer up to four category B3 machines and an unlimited number of category C and D machines.
Licensed family entertainment centre
Another form of amusement arcade, however children are permitted to enter.
They can offer an unlimited number of category C and D machines:
- children are permitted to play category D machines
- any category C machines must be in a fenced off area where only those over 18 years of age can enter.
Unlicensed family entertainment centre gaming machine permit
These are amusement arcades that only offer category D machines, which are machines that give prizes by tickets that can be saved up and exchanged for bigger prizes. Children have freedom to access and play on these machines.
To apply for a family entertainment centre permit, you should need submit an application form and the fee. The application does not need to be advertised. The permit will last for 10 years and has no annual fee. The permit is non transferable.
Clubs under the Gambling Act 2005
There are two types of club:
- members clubs
- commercial clubs.
A members club is operated purely for the benefit of its members, is not for profit and must have at least 25 members. A commercial club must have at least 25 members and can profit.
A members club can apply for a club gaming permit or a club machine permit. A commercial club can only apply for a club machine permit.
There are no operators, premise or personal licences required just a permit from the licensing authority. To obtain this permit there is an application form which must be completed and returned with the relevant fee. Notice of the application must be given to the Police and Gambling Commission and there follows an objection period in which these authorities may object to the application.
Once issued, a permit lasts for 10 years, as long as the club is still in operation. The club must apply for a renewal between three months and six weeks before it expires and a renewal fee will be payable. An annual fee is payable on the permit 30 days after it is issued and then annually on the anniversary of the grant of the licence.
Club gaming permit
A club gaming permit allows up to three gaming machines of category B4, C or D. Only category D machines can be played by children.
The machines must be operated and located to comply with the legislation. Only members or signed in guests can play the machines.
A club with this permit can also have equal chance gaming, such as bingo, however the stakes or prizes cannot exceed £2000 within a seven day period. Any person participating must be a member of the club or a signed in guest and no children can play. There can be no participation fee and no deduction from stakes or prizes.
Club machine permit
A club machine permit allows up to three gaming machines of category B4, C or D. Only category D machines can be played by children.
The machines must be operated and located to comply with the legislation. Only members or signed in guests can play the machines. Games such as dominoes or cribbage can be played in the club, but games such as bingo cannot be played.
Alcohol licensed premises under the Gambling Act 2005
To qualify to have gaming machines, a premise must have a bar at which alcohol is served for consumption on the premises. There are two types of authorisation.
Automatic entitlement notification of gaming machines
Alcohol licensed premises are automatically entitled to up to two gaming machines of category C or D.
To apply, they simply need to send us written notification that they intend to have gaming machines together with the relevant fee. There is no annual fee payable and the notification is of unlimited duration for so long as the licence holder stays the same.
Licensed premises gaming machine permit
If a pub wishes to have more than two category C or D machines, they must apply for a permit. The permit is of unlimited duration and there is an annual fee payable. If any circumstances change the permit must be varied or transferred.
Pubs can also allow equal chance gaming eg bingo as long as the stakes or prizes do not exceed £2000 in any seven day period. Children are not allowed to play and no participation fee can be charged or any amount deducted. The premises must not become a place used mainly for gaming; its main use must still be as a pub.
Prize gaming
Prize gaming is equal chance gaming, where:
- players have an equal chance of winning
- the prizes are determined by the proprietor before knowing how many people will be playing.
Any prize gaming must be played entirely in one day and the result of the game must be made public.
If a premises holds a premises licence for adult gaming or a family entertainment centre, prize gaming is allowed without a prize gaming permit.
Travelling fairs may offer prize gaming without authorisation.
An application for prize gaming can only be made by the person who occupies the premises. To apply for a prize gaming permit, the applicant must complete an application form and send to the licensing authority together with the relevant fee. The permit then lasts for 10 years.