Gambling licensing policy

The Gambling Act 2005 regulates most forms of gambling in the UK and places control of some gambling activities in the hands of local authorities.

In exercising their functions under the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”), the Licensing Authority (Buckinghamshire Council) will have regard to the licensing objectives as set out in section 1 of the Act. The licensing objectives are:

• 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, and
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

While the term “vulnerable” is not defined in the Act, the Gambling Commission assumes for regulatory purposes that vulnerable people include those who gamble more than they want to, people who gamble beyond their means and people who may not be able to make informed or balanced decisions about gambling due to, for example, mental health issues, a learning disability or substance misuse relating to alcohol or drugs. The Licensing Authority will make the same assumptions when exercising its powers under the Act.

The Licensing Authority will work with partners such as the police, the Gambling Commission, GamCare and other treatment providers to ensure that gambling is fair and open, kept free from crime and protects those who are underage or vulnerable from being harmed.

In making decisions in relation to the grant or otherwise of premises licences under section 153 of the Act, the Licensing Authority will aim to permit the use of premises for gambling in so far as the proposed activities are reasonably consistent with:

• any relevant code of practice,
• any relevant guidance issued by the Commission,
• the licensing objectives, and
• the Licensing Authority’s Statement of Licensing Principles

When making any application under the Act, applicants are strongly advised to provide sufficient relevant information to enable the Licensing Authority to properly determine their application in light of the requirements in section 153.