Licences and permits
The permissions a business needs before it can trade, each one tied to the law that creates it and to the body that issues it. We point at GOV.UK for fees and forms, and never copy them.
21 of 426 licences for Gambling and betting, including arcades, bingo and racing
Choose from all 48 activities
A
B
Bingo club licence (Northern Ireland)
You need a licence from your local magistrates' court to operate a commercial bingo club in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Bookmaker's licence (Northern Ireland)
To operate as a bookmaker and take on-course and off-course bets in Northern Ireland you need a licence from the local magistrates' court
Your council · Northern Ireland
Bookmaker's premises licence (Scotland)
You need a licence in Scotland to operate as a premises based bookmaker from your local authority
Your council · Scotland
Bookmaking office licence (Northern Ireland)
If you use premises to take off-course bets in Northern Ireland you need a licence from the local magistrates' court
Your council · Northern Ireland
C
Club gaming permit (Scotland)
You need a club gaming permit if you run a members' club or a miners' welfare institute
Your council · Scotland
Club machine permit (Scotland)
You need to get a permit from your local authority to provide gaming machines eg fruit machines in a club in Scotland
Your council · Scotland
Consent for leaflet distribution (Northern Ireland)
You must have permission from your local council to distribute leaflets within designated litter control areas
Your council · Northern Ireland
E
G
L
Licence to train racehorses (England, Scotland and Wales)
You need a licence to train racehorses to compete in steeple chases, hurdle races and national hunt flat races.
DEFRA · England, Wales and Scotland
Licensed premises gaming machine permit (Scotland)
You must have a gaming machine permit to have three or more category C or D gaming machines on your premises
Your council · Scotland
Lottery licence (Northern Ireland)
To promote a lottery you need to register with a local authority in Northern Ireland
Your council · Northern Ireland
N
P
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Your council · England and Wales
Permission to distribute leaflets (England and Wales)
You may need to get permission to distribute free printed material in certain areas controlled by the local council.
Your council · England and Wales
Permission to use street or pavement space for displays (Scotland)
You must get written permission to put advertising signs or displays on the road or pavement in Scotland - fines, penalties
Your council · Scotland
R
T
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Your council · England and Wales
Track betting licence (Northern Ireland)
You need a licence to provide betting facilities at a track or sports stadium in Northern Ireland
Your council · Northern Ireland
TV Licence
You need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they're broadcast, and to watch on-demand …
DCMS · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
We have not yet mapped an enabling instrument for 2 licences on this list. That is a gap in our graph, not a statement about the law, and those pages say so rather than guessing.
Checking approvals more broadly?
A licence is one of several things you may need before your first day of trading. The pre-trading quick check walks the registrations, insurances and approvals alongside it.
Not sure which of these apply to you?
Our guides on finding a licence and dealing with your local council walk through the questions that decide it.