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Gambling Act 2005

Please note: If you need to see a member of the Licensing section, they will only be available between the hours of 10.00am and 12.00 noon and 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

Gambling Act 2005

The new Gambling Act 2005 came into force on 1 September 2007.

The Gambling Act has replaced most of the existing law about gambling in Great Britain and has to put in place more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation.

The Gambling Act 2005 has three objectives:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and 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.

The Gambling Commission has also been established as the new, independent national regulator for commercial gambling in Great Britain.

The Gambling Act 2005 transfers all responsibility for licensing gambling premises previously held by the Licensing Justices to Local Authorities.
Local authorities will also be responsible for a number of different permits, as well as temporary and occasional use notices.

Surrey Heath Borough Council now issues premises licences for the following activities:

• Betting
• Adult gaming centres
• Bingo
• Family Entertainment Centre
• Casinos
• Sporting tracks, including horse racing and dog tracks.

Surrey Heath Borough Council also issues permits for:

• Gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises, such as pubs
• Gaming machines for members clubs
• Other gaming activities in member' clubs
• Category D machines in unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre
• (Category D machines are those that can be used by children and have the lowest level of stakes and prizes)
• Prize gaming

View Further Information on Gaming Machine Permits

Surrey Heath Borough Council will also register and issue:

• Small society lotteries
• Occasional and temporary use notices
• Provisional statements

View Further Information of Small Society Lotteries

Use the links below for further information:

• Further Information for Local Residents Opens in a new window
• Further Information for Local Councillors Opens in a new window

The Statement of Gambling Policy sets out the principles of how Surrey Heath Borough Council will manage the licensing of local gambling activities over the next three years.

• View the Statement of Policy Opens in a new window

Further Information
For further information about the Gambling Act 2005, its implementation, and the roles and responsibilities of Licensing Authorities, please visit the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) web site www.culture.gov.uk Opens in a new window - Look under 'Gambling & Racing'.