Gambling Act 2005
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Gambling Commission
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 60 compliance obligations, 6 practical guides across 3 topics
What you must do
60 compliance obligations under this legislation — 24 can result in imprisonment.
Management duties 8
Apply for and obtain approval for transfer of gambling premises licence
If you run a gambling premises and want to sell or hand over the licence to someone else, you must lodge a formal application with the licensing authority. The request must state when the transfer should happen and include a written consent from the current licence holder. Any conditions attached to the licence must be replaced with a new, equivalent agreement before the transfer can be completed.
Do not accept bets on National Lottery outcomes
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000If you hold a general betting, pool betting or betting intermediary licence, you must not allow any bets that are based on the result of the National Lottery. This means your betting platforms, staff or agents cannot take wagers on lottery draws, and you must remove any such offers from your service.
Do not give or facilitate credit for gambling
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000If you run a casino or bingo hall you must not let players borrow money to gamble, nor help anyone else do so. You can only have a creditāmachine on site if you have no commercial link with the credit provider, receive no payment and you follow the strict rules about where and how that machine is used.
Do not provide gambling on Christmas Day
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you hold a premises licence for gambling, you must make sure that on 25āÆDecember your venue does not offer any gambling facilities. This means closing any casino, betting shop, gaming machines or other gambling services that day and telling staff that gambling must not be provided.
Ensure compliance with socialāresponsibility provisions of the gambling code
If you hold an operating licence for gambling, you must make sure your business ā and anyone you employ to run the gambling activity ā follows the socialāresponsibility rules set out in the code of practice issued by Ofcom. Breaching these rules breaches your licence condition and can lead to criminal action.
Ensure prize gaming complies with statutory conditions
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000If you run any prize gaming ā for example at fairs, bingo halls or similar events ā you must keep participation fees within the limits set by regulations, sell all chances and run the game on the same day and at the same venue, publish the result publicly as soon as possible (and definitely on the day), limit the prize value to the prescribed amount, and make sure playing the game does not automatically enter the player into any other gambling.
Only authorised persons may accept bets and allow postal betting
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000If you hold a general betting operating licence you must make sure that only you, a person you employ under a written contract, or another licence holder can take bets on your behalf. You also have to permit customers to place bets by post and you cannot add any condition that limits or removes this option.
Prevent children from entering casino premises or restricted areas
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000If you run a casino, you must stop children and young people from getting into any part of the casino where gambling is allowed. You need to have staff supervising every entrance and check IDs unless youāre sure the person is an adult.
Notifications 1
Submit temporary use notice for gambling premises
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you plan to use premises for gambling on a temporary basis, you must give a temporaryāuse notice to the local licensing authority. The notice (with the prescribed fee) must also be copied to Ofcom, the chief police officer for the area and HMRC, and all copies must be received within seven days of the start date. Failure to do so can attract a large fine.
Other requirements 1
Apply for a replacement copy of a lost, stolen or damaged licence
If your gambling premises licence is lost, stolen or damaged, you must promptly ask the licensing authority for a certified copy and pay the prescribed fee. If the licence was lost or stolen you also need to report the incident to the police. The authority will then issue a certified copy which you can treat as the original licence.
Payments and fees 1
Pay your premises licence annual fee
If you hold a gambling premises licence you must pay the required annual fee each year. Missing the payment can lead to your licence being revoked, meaning you must stop operating. Only an administrative error might allow the regulator to waive the revocation.
Offences and prohibitions 46
Advertise unlawful gambling without a licence
51 weeks imprisonmentIf your business promotes gambling that is not covered by a valid licence, permit, notice or other legal exception, you are committing an offence. Each day the illegal ad is displayed can count as a separate offence. On conviction you could be jailed for up to 51 weeks, fined without limit (or both), and the case will be dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Breach a personal gambling licence condition
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you hold a personal licence for gambling activities and carry out any of those activities in a way that does not follow the terms and conditions of your licence, you have committed an offence. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine (levelāÆ5 on the standard scale), or both. The case will be dealt with in the magistrates' court (summary conviction).
Breach gambling licensing or other gambling offences
51 weeks imprisonmentIf your business commits any offence under the Gambling Act 2005 ā for example operating without a licence, allowing underāage gambling or breaching other gambling conditions ā you can be prosecuted. On a summary conviction you face up to 51 weeksā imprisonment (six months in Scotland) and/or an unlimited fine. For offences committed by a young person the maximum fine falls to Ā£1,000 and imprisonment is removed.
Cheat at gambling or enable cheating
2 years imprisonmentIf you, or anyone you work for, cheat at gambling or help someone else cheat ā even if you donāt win or improve your chances ā you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Crown Court you can be sentenced to up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The offence can also be tried in a magistratesā court, where a shorter custodial term and a fine up to the statutory maximum apply.
Corporate liability for gambling offences
51 weeks imprisonmentIf your company (or any unincorporated business) commits an offence under the Gambling Act and it was done with the consent, connivance or negligence of a director, manager, secretary or other officer, the company itself and that officer can both be prosecuted. The penalties will be the same as those that apply to the underlying gambling offence, so both the organisation and the individual may face fines, imprisonment or other sanctions.
Employ a child on bingo or club gambling premises
6 months imprisonmentIf you hire a child to work on premises where bingo is played or where club gambling is permitted, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you face an unlimited fine and a possible term of imprisonment.
Employ a child or young person on licensed casino/betting premises
51 weeks imprisonmentIt is an offence for any employer to hire a child or young person to work on premises that hold a casino, betting or adult gaming centre licence, unless the work is carried out when no gambling activity is taking place or in a part of the premises not being used for gambling. Breaching this can lead to criminal prosecution, with the possibility of an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment.
Employ a child or young person to provide gambling facilities
Unlimited fineIf your business hires a child or a young person to run or help run any gambling activity, you are committing an offence, unless the gambling is private, nonācommercial, a lottery, football pools or prize gaming at a travelling fair. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and possibly a prison term. The offence is relevant to any employer who might consider using underā18 staff in a gamblingārelated role.
Employ a child to provide gambling facilities for lottery or football pools
6 months imprisonmentIf you hire anyone under the age of 16 to run or help run gambling activities for a lottery (other than the National Lottery) or football pools, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you could face an unlimited fine and up to six monthsā imprisonment. The offence is tried either in the Magistratesā Court or the Crown Court.
Fail to comply with a forfeiture order
51 weeks (6 months in Scotland) imprisonmentIf a court orders you to hand over an article that relates to a gambling offence (for example, gambling equipment, cash or records) you must surrender it to a police officer as soon as reasonably possible. Failing to obey that order, or not cooperating with steps taken to enforce it, is a criminal offence. On conviction you face an unlimited fine and/or up to 51 weeksā imprisonment (six months in Scotland).
Fail to comply with gambling advertising regulations
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you place or allow a gambling advertisement that does not meet a requirement of the regulations (e.g., the form, content, timing, location or required wording), you commit an offence. Each day the nonācompliant advert is displayed is treated as a separate offence. On conviction in the magistratesā court you face up to 51 weeksā imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
Fail to comply with information request from Gambling Commission
Fine up to Ā£500If you hold a gambling operating licence and the Gambling Commission asks you for records, copies of records or other information about your licensed activities, you must provide them unless you have a reasonable excuse. Ignoring or refusing the request is an offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you could be fined up to Ā£500.
Fail to comply with information request from Gambling Commission
Fine up to Ā£500If the Gambling Commission asks you (or anyone who makes or accepts a bet) for information or documents about a betting transaction and you do not provide them without a reasonable excuse, you commit an offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to Ā£500. There is no custodial sentence for this offence.
Fail to comply with licence amendment request
Fine up to Ā£500If the Gambling Commission tells you to submit your operating licence for amendment (for example to change conditions or renew it) you must do so within 14 days. Failing to comply without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction in a magistrates' court you face a fine of up to Ā£500.
Fail to display or produce a temporary use notice
Fine up to Ā£500If you issue a temporaryāuse notice for premises you must display a copy prominently whenever the activity runs and must show the endorsed notice to an officer on request. Failing to do so (without a reasonable excuse) is a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to Ā£500.
Fail to make premises licence available on request
Fine up to Ā£500If you hold a premises licence (for a casino, betting shop, bingo hall, etc.) you must keep the licence on the premises and show it to a police constable, an enforcement officer or an authorised localāauthority officer when they ask for it. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistratesā court you can be fined up to Ā£500.
Fail to notify change of circumstance to the Gambling Commission
Fine up to Ā£500If your gambling business holds an operating licence and you do not notify the Gambling Commission of a prescribed change of circumstance ā or you do not provide the required details ā you are committing an offence unless you have a reasonable excuse. On conviction you will be fined up to Ā£500. The case is dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Fail to notify Gambling Commission of a licence holder's conviction
Fine up to Ā£500If your business holds a personal or operating gambling licence and you are convicted of a relevant offence, you must tell the Gambling Commission about the conviction and any sentence as soon as reasonably practicable. Not doing so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. The penalty is a fine of up to Ā£500 on summary conviction.
Fail to notify Gambling Commission of highāturnover bingo
Fine up to Ā£1,000If your club or institute runs highāturnover bingo and does not have a bingo operating licence, you must tell the Gambling Commission as soon as reasonably practicable. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to Ā£1,000, tried in the magistratesā court.
Fail to notify Gambling Commission of highāturnover bingo period
Fine up to Ā£1,000If your premises has an onāpremises alcohol licence (or the equivalent Scottish licence) and bingo on the premises reaches highāturnover levels, you must inform the Gambling Commission as soon as reasonably practicable unless you already hold a bingo operating licence. Failing to do so is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to Ā£1,000.
Fail to notify the Gambling Commission of licenceāholder convictions
Fine up to Ā£500If your business holds a gambling operating licence and you are convicted of any offence (including a relevant gambling offence) you must tell the Gambling Commission as soon as reasonably practicable (and inform the court of your licence status for relevant offences). Failing to do so is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to Ā£500.
Fail to notify the licensing authority of a change of circumstance
Fine up to Ā£500If you hold a gambling premises licence and you move home, change the address you attend, or any other prescribed circumstance, you must promptly tell the licensing authority (e.g., the local authority or Gambling Commission) and give your new address. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is an offence and can result in a summary fine of up to Ā£500.
Fail to produce club permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500If an occupier of a club premises does not show the required club gaming or club machine permit when a police constable or an enforcement officer asks to see it, the occupier commits a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistratesā Court the offence carries a fine of up to Ā£500.
Fail to produce gambling authorisation on demand
Fine up to Ā£500If a police constable or enforcement officer asks you ā as a gambling licence holder, someone taking bets on behalf of a licence holder, a casino licence holder or anyone relying on a gambling authorisation ā to show a copy of the relevant authorisation within the time asked (or immediately) and you do not, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you will be fined up to Ā£500 in the magistrates' court. No prison term is specified.
Fail to produce gaming machine permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500If you occupy premises that have a licensed premises gaming machine permit and a police constable, enforcement officer or authorised localāauthority officer asks to see the permit, you must produce it. Not doing so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On a summary conviction you can be fined up to levelāÆ2 (Ā£500) in the magistratesā court.
Fail to produce operating licence on request
Fine up to Ā£500If a police officer or enforcement officer asks you to show your gambling operating licence, you must provide it within the time they set. Failing to do so, without a reasonable excuse, is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to Ā£500 (levelāÆ2 on the standard scale).
Fail to produce permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500If you are the occupier of premises that have a family entertainment centre gamingāmachine permit and a constable, enforcement officer or authorised localāauthority officer asks to see the permit, you must produce it. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to Ā£500; there is no custodial sentence.
Fail to produce personal gambling licence on demand
Fine up to Ā£500If a police constable or an enforcement officer asks you, as the holder of a personal gambling licence, to show the licence ā either immediately, while you are carrying out a licensed activity, or while you are on premises covered by a premises licence ā and you do not produce it without a reasonable excuse, you commit an offence. On conviction in the magistratesā court you face a fine of up to Ā£500.
Fail to produce prize gaming permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500If you occupy premises that have a prize gaming permit and a police constable, enforcement officer or authorised localāauthority officer asks you to show the permit, you must produce it. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you face a fine of up to levelāÆ2 on the standard scale (Ā£500).
Give false or misleading information to gambling regulator
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you (or your business) provide information that is false or misleading to the Gambling Commission or a local licensing authority for any matter connected with the Gambling Act ā for example in an application for a licence ā you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be sentenced to up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine (levelāÆ5 on the standard scale), or both. The regulator can also cancel or vary any decision that was based on the false information.
Invite a child or young person to gamble
2 years imprisonmentIf you, as a gambling operator or any other person, invite, cause or allow a child or young person to gamble ā for example by sending them advertising material or encouraging them to gamble ā you commit a criminal offence. The offence does not apply to private, nonācommercial gaming, betting, lotteries, football pools, certain Category D machines and other exempted activities listed in the provision. On conviction you face an unlimited fine and up to two yearsā imprisonment.
Invite a child to football pools
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you invite, cause or permit a child to take part in a football pools game you commit a criminal offence. This applies to any business or individual that promotes or allows the activity for persons under 18. On conviction you face a fine (up to the maximum levelā5 fine) and no custodial sentence.
Invite a child to take part in a nonāexempt lottery
Unlimited fineIf your business invites, causes or allows a child to take part in a lottery that is not one of the exempt types (incidental, private society, work/residents, or the National Lottery), you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies to anyone who makes the invitation or permits the child's participation. Conviction can result in an unlimited fine and, for a summary offence, no custodial sentence.
Invite child or young person onto gambling premises
6 months imprisonmentIf you let a child or young person enter any premises that are being used under a casino, betting, adultāgamingācentre or familyāentertainmentācentre licence ā or any area that the Gambling Act specifically says must be offālimits ā you are committing a criminal offence. The prohibition also applies where a CategoryāÆC gaming machine is available in the area the child is allowed to enter. Breaching the rule can lead to a fine and/or a custodial sentence, depending on how the courts decide to punish the offence.
Invite or enable gambling in a prohibited territory
If your business (or you personally) runs an online gambling service from the UK and deliberately invites or helps someone in a country that the Secretary of State has designated as a prohibited territory to gamble, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment, with the exact penalty and whether the case is heard in a magistratesā court or Crown Court set by a separate order.
Invite or manage a chaināgift scheme
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you invite people to join, or you run or promote, a chaināgift (pyramid) scheme where participants must pay a joining fee and are told they will earn money by recruiting others, you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be sentenced to up to 51 weeks in prison (six months in Scotland or Northern Ireland), an unlimited fine (levelāÆ5 on the standard scale), or both.
Manufacture or supply gaming machines without a licence
2 years imprisonmentIf your business makes, sells, installs, adapts, maintains or repairs a gambling machine (or any part of it) without holding a valid operating licence ā or ignores the specific regulatory conditions that apply ā you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can result in an unlimited fine (the regulator can also impose a fine up to 10āÆ% of global turnover or Ā£18āÆmillion) and may carry a term of imprisonment.
Misuse lottery profits for unauthorised purpose
If you run a lottery and you have told participants that the money raised will be used for a specific charitable or fundraising purpose, you must only spend the profits on that purpose. Using any part of the lottery profit ā or allowing someone else to use it ā for something else is a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, although the exact penalties are set elsewhere in the Gambling Act.
Misuse profits of exempt lottery
If your business runs an exempt lottery (e.g. a work, residentsā or small society lottery) and you spend any of the lotteryās profits on something other than the purpose the lottery was allowed to promote, you commit a criminal offence. Being convicted can result in a fine and/or imprisonment, with the exact maximum penalties set out in the Actās penalty provisions.
Obstruct constable or enforcement officer
Fine up to Ā£1,000If you, or anyone acting for your gambling business, deliberately block or refuse to cooperate with a police officer, local authority inspector or Gambling Commission officer who is exercising powers under the Gambling Act, you commit an offence. A conviction in the magistrates' court will result in a fine of up to Ā£1,000. No prison term is provided for this offence.
Provide gambling facilities without a licence
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you run or allow gambling activities ā such as a betting shop, casino, gaming machine venue or any other gambling premises ā without holding a valid operating licence (or without falling within a listed exception), you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The offence is tried in the Magistrates' Court only.
Provide gaming machine without a licence
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you make a gambling machine available for people to use without a valid operating licence, or you do so in breach of the regulations that apply to such machines, you are committing a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and up to 51 weeksā imprisonment. Both the local authority and the Gambling Commission can take action against you.
Run a small society lottery without proper registration
Unlimited fineIf your nonācommercial society runs a lottery that should be an exempt lottery but you are not registered with the local authority, fail to meet the requirements in paragraphāÆ39 of ScheduleāÆ11, or give false information to satisfy those requirements, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine (and possibly other sanctions).
Supply or install gambling software without a licence
51 weeks imprisonmentIf your business manufactures, supplies, installs or adapts computer software used for remote gambling and you do not hold a valid operating licence, you are committing a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face up to 51 weeks' imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
Use nonācommercial gambling profits for the wrong purpose
51 weeks (6 months in Scotland) imprisonmentIf your organisation runs a nonācommercial prize or equalāchance gaming event (for example a charity raffle) and you use any of the profits for anything other than the fundraising purpose that was set, you commit an offence. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The case is dealt with in the magistratesā court.
Use premises for gambling without a licence
51 weeks imprisonmentIf you let a casino, bingo, gaming machines, other gaming facilities or betting take place on premises that you own, occupy or control without holding a valid premises licence (or an applicable exception), you are committing a criminal offence. On conviction you can be sentenced to up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine (levelāÆ5 on the standard scale) or both. The offence is tried in the Magistratesā Court.
Registration and licensing 1
Apply to reinstate a lapsed gambling premises licence
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000If your gambling licence expires or lapses, you have six months to ask the licensing authority to reinstate it and become the licence holder again. You must submit a full application (including what is required by sectionāÆ159) and ask that the licence be restored as soon as the authority approves it. The authority will then amend the licence to show you as the licencee and set the reinstatement date.
Reporting and filing 2
Include licence or request a copy when applying to transfer a premises licence
If you want to take over a gambling premises licence, you must attach the original licence to your transfer application. If you canāt produce the licence, you must give a brief explanation why itās not reasonable to do so and also ask the current licence holder for a copy of the licence using the form set out in sectionāÆ190.
Notify Ofcom of any change in company control
If someone gains control of your gamblingālicensed company, you must tell Ofcom within five weeks and either give up the licence or apply to keep it. You also need to provide details about the new controllerās shareholdings and any subsidiary interests. Failing to do so can lead to the licence being revoked and a fine.
Penalties for non-compliance
55 penalties under this legislation. 24 can result in imprisonment. 25 carry an unlimited fine.
Do not provide gambling on Christmas Day
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000 and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Submit temporary use notice for gambling premises
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000 and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Do not accept bets on National Lottery outcomes
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000
Do not give or facilitate credit for gambling
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000
Ensure prize gaming complies with statutory conditions
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000
Only authorised persons may accept bets and allow postal betting
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000
Prevent children from entering casino premises or restricted areas
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000
Apply to reinstate a lapsed gambling premises licence
Fine up to Ā£18,000,000
Fail to comply with licence condition on return of stake
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Advertise unlawful gambling without a licence
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Breach a personal gambling licence condition
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Breach gambling licensing or other gambling offences
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Cheat at gambling or enable cheating
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Corporate liability for gambling offences
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Employ a child on bingo or club gambling premises
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Employ a child or young person on licensed casino/betting premises
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Employ a child to provide gambling facilities for lottery or football pools
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to comply with a forfeiture order
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks (6 months in Scotland) imprisonment
Fail to comply with gambling advertising regulations
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Give false or misleading information to gambling regulator
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Invite a child or young person to gamble
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Invite a child to football pools
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Invite child or young person onto gambling premises
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Invite or manage a chaināgift scheme
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Manufacture or supply gaming machines without a licence
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide gambling facilities without a licence
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Provide gaming machine without a licence
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Supply or install gambling software without a licence
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Use nonācommercial gambling profits for the wrong purpose
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks (6 months in Scotland) imprisonment
Use premises for gambling without a licence
Unlimited fine and/or 51 weeks imprisonment
Employ a child or young person to provide gambling facilities
Unlimited fine
Invite a child to take part in a nonāexempt lottery
Unlimited fine
Run a small society lottery without proper registration
Unlimited fine
Fail to notify Gambling Commission of highāturnover bingo
Fine up to Ā£1,000
Fail to notify Gambling Commission of highāturnover bingo period
Fine up to Ā£1,000
Obstruct constable or enforcement officer
Fine up to Ā£1,000
Fail to comply with information request from Gambling Commission
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to comply with information request from Gambling Commission
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to comply with licence amendment request
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to display or produce a temporary use notice
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to make premises licence available on request
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to notify change of circumstance to the Gambling Commission
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to notify Gambling Commission of a licence holder's conviction
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to notify the Gambling Commission of licenceāholder convictions
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to notify the licensing authority of a change of circumstance
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce club permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce gambling authorisation on demand
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce gaming machine permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce operating licence on request
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce personal gambling licence on demand
Fine up to Ā£500
Fail to produce prize gaming permit on request
Fine up to Ā£500
Invite or enable gambling in a prohibited territory
Penalty applies
Misuse lottery profits for unauthorised purpose
Penalty applies
Misuse profits of exempt lottery
Penalty applies
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
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Specialist hospitality licences and permissions
Gaming machines, civil wedding venues, tourist accommodation registration, HMO licensing and other specialist permissions for hospitality businesses with specific activities ā¦
Get licences from your local council
Comprehensive guide to local authority licensing requirements including premises licences for alcohol and entertainment, food business registration, street trading, pavement ā¦
Age verification for online services
How to implement age verification to comply with the Online Safety Act and ICO Children's Code. Covers verification methods, pornography ā¦
Professional registrations: regulated sectors
Which business sectors require professional or regulator registration before trading, what the registration process involves, and how long it typically ā¦
Sections and provisions
382 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 44
- Schedule 9 Applications for Casino Premises Licences
- s.22 Duty to promote the licensing objectives
- s.23 Statement of principles for licensing and regulation
- s.25 Guidance to local authorities
- s.26 Duty to advise Secretary of State advice under this section
- s.29 Licensing authority information A licensing authority
- s.32 Consultation with Commissioners of Customs and Excise The Gambling Commission
- s.74 Determination of application
- s.82 Compliance with code of practice
- s.92 General betting operating licence
- s.95 Betting on the National Lottery
- s.102 Change of corporate control has failed
- s.106 Register of operating licences
- s.118A Reinstatement
- s.137 Notification of operating licensee
- s.153 Principles to be applied
- s.162 Requirement for hearing
- s.163 Determination of application A licensing authority
- s.164 Grant of application
- s.165 Rejection of application
- ... and 24 more duties
Offences and penalties 57
- Schedule 10 Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permits
- Schedule 12 Club Gaming Permits and Club Machine Permits
- Schedule 13 Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permits
- s.33 Provision of facilities for gambling
- s.36 Territorial application
- s.37 Use of premises
- s.41 Gambling software
- s.42 Cheating
- s.43 Chain-gift schemes
- s.44 Provision of unlawful facilities abroad
- s.46 Invitation to gamble
- s.47 Invitation to enter premises
- s.48 Gambling
- s.49 Entering premises
- s.50 Provision of facilities for gambling
- s.51 Employment to provide facilities for gambling
- s.52 Employment for lottery or football pools
- s.53 Employment on bingo and club premises
- s.54 Employment on premises with gaming machines
- s.55 Employment in casino, &c.
- ... and 37 more offences and penalties
Powers 93
- Schedule 1 Betting: Prize Competitions: Definition of Payment to Enter
- Schedule 3 Amendment of National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39)
- s.5 Facilities for gambling
- Schedule 18 Transitional
- s.27 Compliance
- s.38 Power to amend section 37
- s.39 Exception: occasional use notice
- s.40 Exception: football pools
- s.59 Age limit for Category D gaming machines
- s.65 Nature of licence
- s.66 Form of licence
- s.69 Application
- s.71 Consideration of application: criminal record
- s.75 General conditions imposed by Commission
- s.77 Individual condition imposed by Commission
- s.78 Condition imposed by Secretary of State
- s.79 Scope of powers to attach conditions
- s.80 Requirement for personal licence
- s.81 Credit and inducements
- s.88 Information
- ... and 73 more powers
Definitions 73
- s.1 The licensing objectives
- s.2 Licensing authorities
- Schedule 2 Lotteries: Definition of Payment to Enter
- s.3 Gambling gambling
- s.4 Remote gambling
- s.6 Gaming & game of chance
- s.7 Casino
- s.8 Equal chance gaming
- s.9 Betting: general betting
- s.10 Spread bets, &c.
- s.11 Betting: prize competitions
- s.12 Pool betting
- s.13 Betting intermediary betting intermediary
- s.14 Lottery
- s.15 National Lottery
- s.16 Betting and gaming
- s.17 Lotteries and gaming
- s.18 Lotteries and betting
- s.19 Non-commercial society
- s.45 Meaning of āchildā and āyoung personā
- ... and 53 more definitions
Exemptions 54
- Schedule 15 Private Gaming and Betting
- s.28 Investigation and prosecution of offences
- s.30 Other exchange of information
- s.34 Exception: lotteries
- s.35 Exception: gaming machines
- s.63 Reasonable belief about person's age
- s.70 Consideration of application: general principles
- s.83 Return of stakes to children
- s.100 Annual fee
- s.104 Application to vary licence
- s.125 Relevant offence: disapplication of rehabilitation
- s.135 Review
- s.145 Stay pending appeal
- s.152 Combined licence, &c.
- s.159 Making of application
- s.182 Exclusion of children from track areas
- s.184 Annual fee
- s.187 Application to vary licence
- s.204 Application
- s.208 Stay pending appeal
- ... and 34 more exemptions