Comment on a gambling licence application

You can submit comments (called 'representations') on new or variation gambling licence applications and on reviews of existing licences.

You can view all live applications on the Licensing Public Register.

You can submit a representation if you're an interested party or responsible authority.

Interested parties include:

• people living close enough to be affected by the premises
• businesses likely to be impacted
• representatives of those individuals or businesses (for example, councillors or community groups)

Responsible authorities include bodies such as the police or safeguarding teams.

Your comment must relate to the Gambling Act 2005 objectives:

• 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 people from being harmed or exploited by gambling

Your comments must be relevant and cannot be about:

• general views about gambling
• planning or anti-social behaviour issues
• commercial competition or moral objections

You can submit comments online via the public register, by email or post.

You may ask someone else (such as a councillor) to write on your behalf.

Your comment needs to include:

• application reference number and premises address
• your name, address and connection to the area
• whether you support or oppose the application
• how the application affects the gambling objectives and why
• any supporting evidence

You can find the application and submit a comment on the public register.

[email protected]

Licensing Team,
The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road,
Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire,
HP19 8FF

We will consider all relevant comments received by the deadline.

A licensing sub-committee may also hold a public hearing where applicants and representatives can attend and speak.

The licence will be either:

• granted
• refused
• granted with conditions

The decision will be published.

Comments cannot usually be made anonymously. This is because we need to understand how the person submitting the comment is likely to be affected if the licence is granted.

We will send a copy of your comment to the applicant for them to consider, including your:

• name
• street or road name
• reasons for objecting

It is important that an applicant is given the opportunity to respond to a comment.

For example, an applicant may believe that the identity or location of a person making a representation indicates that it has been made for reasons other than those relating to the licensing objectives.

We will not usually disclose other personal contact details or your specific address (such as your house number) unless it is absolutely necessary. For example, we may disclose your exact address if it is directly relevant to the grounds for your objection such as a shared party wall.

If you have a concern about your personal details being disclosed, for example due to fear of intimidation or reprisal, contact the licensing team before submitting your comments.

If you're unsure about submitting a comment, you could contact a responsible authority or a representative to see if they are willing to make a representation on your behalf.

A representative may include a legal representative, a friend, a local councillor or Member of Parliament. In these circumstances you would still be expected to be identified, unless there were concerns about your personal safety.