Gambling and betting licence

How to apply for licences for betting and gambling

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Licence summary

Premises which provide facilities for gambling have to be licensed by the local authority. There are six types of premises licences for the different types of gambling. These are:

  • Casino premises
  • Betting track premises (for example racecourses)
  • Other betting premises (for example betting shops)
  • Bingo premises
  • Adult gaming centres
  • Family entertainment centres.

Only one premises licence can be issued for any single premises (other than a track premises, where more than one licence may have effect in relation to different areas of the track) and the licence cannot authorise the use of the premises for more than one type of gambling operation.

In addition to a premises licence issued by the local authority, gambling operators are required to be licensed by the Gambling Commission to operate a gambling business. For further details please visit the Gambling Commission's website.

Eligibility criteria

An applicant for a premises licence must:

  • if an individual, be 18 years old or older
  • if applying on behalf of a company or partnership, be authorised to make such an application, have a right to occupy the premises, and hold (or have applied for) an Operator’s licence from the Gambling Commission for that gambling activity (unless the application is in respect of a track, in which case the occupier may not be the person who actually offers the gambling).

Regulation summary

See the regulations for gambling for further information.

Application evaluation process

An application for a premises licence must be made on the prescribed form and be accompanied by a plan of the premises (grant, provisional statement, and variation involving alterations to the premises), the relevant application fee and any other prescribed information or documents. Application fees are non-refundable if your application is withdrawn or rejected.

Please send notice of your application on the prescribed form to the relevant responsible authorities (see below).

In addition, an applicant for the grant or variation of a licence, or for a provisional statement is required to advertise the application by means of:

  • a notice displayed at the premises for 28 consecutive days starting on the day the application is made to the licensing authority, and
  • publication of the notice of application in a local newspaper within 10 working days of submitting the application to the licensing authority.

The notices must be in the prescribed form, these are available below.

The consultation period for applications runs for 28 days starting the day the application is made to the licensing authority.

All premises licences are subject to mandatory conditions and in some cases default conditions, which restrict the operating hours under the licence. Mandatory conditions may not be varied or removed from the licence, however, application can be made to remove or vary the default conditions. Please refer to the Gambling Act 2005 (Mandatory and Default Conditions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 for details of the mandatory and default conditions which apply to the various licences.

No. It is in the public interest that the relevant authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the licensing authority within a reasonable period, please contact our licensing team on licensing@lbhf.gov.uk.

Apply

Applications for licences cannot yet be submitted on-line and must be submitted on the correct form. Notification of the application must also be sent to each of the relevant responsible authorities on the prescribed form. There are separate notification forms for individual and multiple applicants. Please use the correct form.

If you need help with the forms please contact the Licensing Team on 020 8753 1081.

Grant of a licence

Provisional statement

Variation

Transfer and reinstatement

Other forms, guidance notes and fees

Licence holder redress

A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence, a decision to reject an application or a decision to take action as a result of a review.

Other redress

A responsible authority or any other person who is affected by the premises may make representations in relation to an application for a provisional statement, or for the grant, variation or review of a licence.

The Chief Police officer for the police area where the premises are located, the Gambling Commission, HM Customs and Excise or the local safeguarding children's board may also make representations against any application for a transfer or re-instatement of a licence.

Appeals

If an application for a licence is refused the failed applicant may appeal.

A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence, a decision to reject an application or a decision to take action as a result of a review.

Where a licensing authority grants an application either of the following may appeal:

  • a person who made representations in relation to the application, and
  • the applicant.

Where a licensing authority take action as a result of a review of a premises licence, or determine to take no action as a result of a review, any of the following may appeal:

  • the licensee,
  • a person who made representations in relation to the review,
  • the person (if any) who applied for the review, and
  • the Commission.

Appeals must be made to Westminster Magistrates' Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5BR within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Lottery registration

Lottery registration

Consumer complaint

A responsible authority or any other person who is affected by the premises may apply to the Licensing Authority to review a premises licence. Following receipt of a review application a hearing will be held by the Licensing Authority.

Trade associations and other contacts

British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA)

Betting and Gaming Council

The Bingo Association

Gamcare - Support for problem gamblers

Gambling Commission

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