Gambling permits and notices
Anyone wishing to provide infrequent or low-value gambling must be authorised by the local authority to do so. Under the Gambling Act 2005, there are a number of different types of permit and notice that may be used to authorise a range of different gambling activities:
For details of the application fees payable with permit and notice applications, please see our Gambling Act 2005 fees list.
Please note that certain types of unlicensed premises, such as fast-food restaurants or minicab offices, are not entitled to apply for permits under the Gambling Act 2005, and therefore may not make gambling facilities (including gaming machines) available for use in their premises. For further information or advice, please contact us.
The council maintains a public register listing all of the permits issued and notices received. This register can be viewed at our offices at 2 Herne Hill Road, London, SE24 0AU, during usual office hours.
Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Notification / Permits
Proprietors of certain premises licensed for the supply of alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003 may apply for permission to make a number of gaming machines available for use within their premises. Applications can only be made by the holder of the Premises Licence for premises that satisfy the following conditions:
- the premises are licensed to supply alcohol, for consumption on those premises;
- the premises contain a bar; and
- the premises are not subject to any licence conditions limiting the supply of alcohol to people having meals on the premises.
Gaming machines are categorised according to how much they cost to use and the maximum prize available. Alcohol-licensed premises may only apply for permission to make Category C & D gaming machines available for use. Category C machines may have a jackpot of up to £35 and can only be used by over-18s. Category D gaming machines may have a cash jackpot of up to £5.
Any premises offering gaming machines must also comply with the Gambling Commission's Code of Practice for clubs and licensed premises.
Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Notification
Every premises that meets the requirements set out above is entitled to make one or two gaming machines available for use, provided that the licence-holder has notified the local authority that they intend to do so. Any notification must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of £50. Once notification has been acknowledged, up to two machines may be made available within the licensed premises until such time as the person who gave the notification relinquishes the alcohol licence, or until the authority cancels the entitlement.
Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit
If it is intended to make more than two gaming machines available for use, the licence-holder must apply to the local authority for a Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit. If granted, a permit will allow a specified number of gaming machines to be made available for an unlimited duration, with an annual fee being payable to maintain the permit. However, the permit will lapse if it is not transferred if the alcohol licence changes hands, or if it is cancelled or revoked by the authority.
Existing permits (section 34 permits)
Prior to September 2007, the Magistrates Courts and local authorities issued 'section 34' permits to pubs and bars allowing the operation of gaming machines. All section 34 permits will continue to have effect until the expiry date shown upon them. If it is still intended to make gaming machines available for use after the expiry date, an application must be made for one of the new types of authorisation, before the section 34 permit expires.
Club Gaming Permit / Club Machine Permit
A members club, a miners welfare institute or a commercial club wishing to make gaming machines available for use within the clubs premises may apply to the authority for a Club Machine Permit. If granted, a total of 3 gaming machines may be made available for use.
Members clubs or miners welfare institutes also have the option of applying for a Club Gaming Permit, which allows the operation of the same number of gaming machines, and also authorises certain forms of prize gaming to be played, with statutory limits upon stakes and prize funds. Commercial clubs may not apply for a Club Gaming Permit.
Clubs that make gaming machines available for use must ensure that they comply with the Gambling Commission's Code of Practice for clubs and licensed premises.
Gaming machines are categorised according to how much they cost to use and the maximum prize available. Clubs permitted to make gaming machines available may offer machines from Categories B3A, B4, C and D. Category B3A machines are lottery-style machines, with a maximum charge to use of £1 and a maximum jackpot of £500. Category B4 machines are standard gaming machines with a top jackpot of £250. Category C machines may have a jackpot of up to £35, and Category D gaming machines may have a cash jackpot of up to £5. All machines apart from Category D may only be used by over-18s.
Existing club permits (part II & part III registrations)
Prior to September 2007, the Magistrates Courts issued 'part II' and 'part III' registrations to clubs which allowed certain types of prize gaming and the operation of gaming machines. These registrations will continue to have effect until the expiry date listed. If the club still intends to make gaming machines and/or prize gaming available after the expiry date, an application must be made for one of the new types of permit, at least 6 weeks before the existing registration expires.
Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permit
Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permits provide an alternative for operators of family-oriented premises to obtaining a full Premises Licence. Permits have a less rigorous application process, as there is no requirement to obtain an Operating Licence or Personal Licence(s) from the Gambling Commission. However, a Family Entertainment Centre permit only allows the lowest value gaming machines to be made available.
Gaming machines are categorised according to how much they cost to use and the maximum prize available. Family Entertainment Centres with permits may only apply for permission to make Category D gaming machines available for use, which have a maximum cash jackpot of £5.
A Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permit, once issued, is valid for 10 years, but will lapse if the holder ceases to occupy the premises, or if the premises changes its primary usage.
Prize Gaming Permit
Although certain types of premises are automatically entitled to host prize gaming events, other premises without this entitlement may also apply for permission to run prize gaming.
Prize gaming provided under a Prize Gaming Permit must satisfy the following conditions:
- The gaming must take place entirely on a single day, and cannot be linked to games happening elsewhere;
- The result of the game must be announced at the gaming location on the same day as the game was played; and
- The maximum participation fee that can be charged for a single chance to win is 50p, and the total participation fees cannot exceed £500;
- The maximum value of a single cash prize cannot exceed £35, and the total value of prizes cannot exceed £500.
A Prize Gaming Permit, once issued, is valid for 10 years, but will lapse if the holder ceases to occupy the premises.
Temporary Use Notice (TUN)
TUNs allow the use of premises for gambling where there is no Premises Licence but where a gambling operator wishes to use the premises temporarily for providing facilities for gambling. Premises that might be suitable for a temporary use notice may include hotels, conference centres and sporting venues.
A premises may not be used for gambling under TUNs for more than 21 days in any 12-month period.
TUN applications can only be made by a person or organisation that holds a relevant Operating Licence issued by the Gambling Commission.
The Secretary of State has restricted the effect of TUNs - they may only be used to provide equal chance prize gaming (excluding gaming machines), in the form of a competition with a single overall winner. No other type of gambling activity may be provided under the authority of a TUN.
Occasional Use Notice (OUN)
Where it is intended to use premises for track betting for less than 8 days in any calendar year, OUNs may be used instead of a full Premises Licence. In this instance, a 'track' is regarded to be a racecourse or any other location at which a race or sporting event is due to take place.
OUNs may only be submitted by persons responsible for the administration of track events, or by an occupier of the track. Any person who wishes to take bets at an event covered by an OUN must hold an appropriate Betting Operating Licence, issued by the Gambling Commission.