Regulation and deregulation

Gambling

Gambling Act 2005

Under the Gambling Act 2005, the Bedford Borough Council is responsible for licensing gambling within the boundaries of its Borough. The Council will also maintain a register of small scale society lotteries. To check if you are located within the Bedford Borough you may refer to the maps downloadable from the following weblink: http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/BedfordBoundariesMaps.

The Council enforces compliance with the conditions of licences, permits and notices by undertaking inspections.

The Bedford Borough Council is responsible for issuing the following authorisations:

Premises Licences for:
- Casinos
- Betting offices and race tracks
- Bingo clubs
- Adult gaming centres
- Family entertainment centre
Permits for:
- Gaming machines in alcohol-licensed premises, such as pubs
- Gaming machines for members clubs
- Gaming in members clubs
- Unlicensed family entertainment centres
  (Category D machines only - i.e. those that have the lowest level of stakes and prizes)
- Prize gaming
  More about permits
Occasional Use Notices
Temporary Use Notices
Provisional Statements

For more information, visit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website at www.culture.gov.uk

To download applications forms, please click here

Policy Statement of Gambling Licensing Principles

Following a period of consultation Bedford Borough Council at a meeting held on 22 November 2006 approved for publication a Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 in the form of a Statement of Principles.

In accordance with the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006, Bedford Borough Council published its Licensing Policy Statement on 3 January 2007, the Statement will come into effect on 31 January 2007.

Notice to Advertise the Statement of Principles ( 26 Kb ) - DOWNLOAD

Fees Schedule GA2005 - DOWNLOAD

You can download a copy of the Statement of Principle here and it is also available for inspection at the Council’s offices at the Town Hall, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SJ during normal office hours.

Statement of Principles ( 830 Kb ) - DOWNLOAD

Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act’) defines gambling [A8]as: gaming; betting; or participating in a lottery. Premises that provide gambling facilities and do not have an operating licence[A9]and comply with its terms and conditions[A10]; or fail to satisfy an exception[A11]under the Act, may have committed a criminal offence[A12], and could be liable on summary conviction[A13]to 51 weeks imprisonment[A14]; and/or a fine not exceeding £5,000[A15](level 5).

The Council aims to grant applications to provide facilities for gambling if we consider[A16]that the application is:

reasonably consistent with licensing objectives [A17](listed above);
in accordance with the Council’s Statement[A18]of Gambling Licensing Principles (that will be the final product of this consultation);
in accordance with the code of practice [A19](see section 24 of the 2005 Act);
and in accordance with the Gambling Commission Guidance[A20] (a copy of which you can download from www.bedford.gov.uk/ga2005).

The licensing objectives of the 2005 Act are wide ranging and will have an impact across the community and business sectors, including justice, education, the social sector, tourism, and economic development.Under the Gambling Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act’), the Bedford Borough Council will be issuing premises licenses for gambling, to amusement arcades, bingo halls, bookmakers, casinos, and it will also issue a variety of gambling permits. The 2005 Act will be fully operational by September 2007, and it repeals the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963; the Gaming Act 1968; and the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976.

The Borough Council is required by the 2005 Act to publish a Licensing Policy to outline how it will promote the three licensing objectives that are:

To prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder[A1], being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
To ensure gambling is conducted in a fair and open way[A2]; and
To protect children and other vulnerable persons [A3]from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Council produced a Draft Statement of Gambling Principles that people could download together with a summary of the document. A feedback form was provided and the deadline for responses was Friday 29 September 2006.

In preparing the statement the council consulted with [A4]the following:

The Chief Officer of Police [A5]for the Borough of Bedford ;
Representatives of gambling businesses [A6]within Bedford Borough; and
Representatives of persons likely to be affected [A7]by the Council’s exercise of its functions under the 2005 Act

In addition to this written consultation, the Council undertook the following activities:

Stakeholder meetings
Articles in Bedford News
Public surveys (including the Councils Citizens Panel)
Focus groups
Information stalls at events such as the Bedford River Festival 2006

The complete list of your responses and the consideration by the Council of comments received was made available in a document called the ‘Summary of Responses’. The summary of responses will also be appended to the Post Consultation Report that was published on this website on Friday 6 October 2006.

Post Consultation Report ( 267 Kb ) - DOWNLOAD

The approved Statement of Gambling Licensing Principles was published on the website on Wednesday 3 January 2007. Copies of the approved policy will be placed in the public libraries in the Borough of Bedford and will also be available from the Borough Council at the Town Hall, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SJ.

List of Responsible Authorities for GA2005 - DOWNLOAD

Gambling Act 2005 ( 920 Kb ) - DOWNLOAD

Gambling Commission Guidance ( 399 Kb ) - DOWNLOAD

INTERNET LINKS:

Gambling Act 2005 (web version)

Gambling Commission