Gambling Licensing

Introduction
The Gambling Act 2005, which came into effect on 1st September 2007, replaced the previous regime for the regulation of gambling. Before this date, gambling was regulated by the following legislation:

• The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963

• The Gaming Act 1968

• The Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976

In exercising most of its functions in relation to premises licences, temporary use notices and some permits under the 2005 Act, the city council must have regard to the licensing objectives 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.

Set out below is a summary of the main subject areas for which the city council is licensing authority under the Gambling Act 2005. Please note that the Act requires anyone applying for a premises licence to hold a Gambling Operator’s licence from the Gambling Commission for that activity. Please follow the link in the other useful websites list to the right for information about this from the Gambling Commission.

Gambling Premises Licences
These types of gambling activity must be authorised by a premises licence - please follow the link on to the left for further information:

• Casinos

• Bingo Clubs

• Betting Offices

• Adult Gaming Centres

• Licensed Family Entertainment Centres

Gaming Permits
These types of gambling activity must be authorised by a permit - please follow the links on to the left for further information:

• Gaming and gaming machines in members' clubs

• Gaming and gaming machines in pubs and other alcohol licensed premises

• Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres

Temporary or Occasional Use Notices
Where premises are to be used occasionally or temporarily for some of the licensable activities, a Temporary Use Notice or an Occasional Use Notice must be given to the licensing authority. Further information is available by following the link on to the left.

Lotteries
Small lotteries, where the proceeds of a single lottery do not exceed £20,000, the total proceeds of all lotteries run in the same calendar year do not exceed £250,000, or where the opportunity to participate is restricted members of a group or to people attending a non-commercial event to are regulated separately - please follow the link to lotteries on the left for more information.

Remote Gambling
Remote gambling, often via the Internet, has become popular in the last few years. If this type of gambling is based in the UK, it is still covered by UK law, but much more remote gambling is based abroad in countries where the requirements for fairness, probity and the exclusion of crime from the business may not be so stringent, if they exist at all.

However, the advertisement of such gambling opportunities is regulated by the Gambling Act 2005, and further information can be obtained from the Gambling Commission via their web site.

Fees under the Gambling Act 2005
The City Council's Licensing Committee set the fees for applications under the Gambling Act 2005 at its meeting in 19th April 2007. A summary is available via the related documents link on the right.

Gambling Act 2005 - Statement of Principles
The Gambling Act 2005 requires the city council to prepare and publish a 'Statement of Principles', with effect for three years from 31st January 2007. This was approved by full council on 15th November 2006 and is available via the link on the left.

Proposed Large Casino
The Government has confirmed the city council's power to grant a new large casino licence in Southampton. Information about this is contained in the Large Casino page

Contact information

Telephone: 023 8083 4439
Email: licensing@southampton.gov.uk
Fax: 023 8083 4061

Postal address:
Licensing Team
Southampton City Council
PO Box 1344
Southampton
SO15 1WQ

Document Exchange: DX 115710 Southampton 17

Personal callers:
Licensing Team
Southbrook Rise
4-8 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1YG

Opening hours:
Members of the licensing team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.

Please note that the addresses and numbers given above should only be used for communication with the licensing team.

Service of Documents
Please use the PO Box or Document Exchange addresses for the service of all applications and notices on the licensing authority; please do not send or deliver such communications to the Civic Centre, as your application, notice or representation will inevitably be delayed, which may cause difficulties or result in your representation not being considered or your application failing to meet the strict prescribed time limits.

We are not able to accept service of applications, notices etc by fax or e-mail. Please note that all applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and bear original signatures.