Licence reminder to gambling businesses

Councillor Wera Hobhouse

Businesses that offer gambling in the borough of Rochdale are being reminded that they need to apply for a premises licence from Rochdale Council by 30 July if they want to continue to run their business from 1 September when the new Gambling Act comes into force.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, nearly all businesses offering gambling must have a new premises licence.  Businesses covered include arcades, betting shops and bingo clubs.

They will also need to have an operating licence from the Gambling Commission. The licences are applied for separately but businesses need not wait for one application to be decided before submitting the other.

The licensing system forms part of the new regulatory regime introduced by the Gambling Act. It brings into power the tough new regulator, the Gambling Commission, which will take action against operators who fail to comply with the Act's three key objectives to ensure that gambling is fair, crime free, and that children and vulnerable people are protected.

Local licensing authorities will also have the power to inspect and take action against premises in their area that fail to comply with the rules. 

The Gambling Act also makes it illegal to have fruit machines on premises such as fish and chips shops, kebab shops and mini-cab offices where children have been able to play these machines without proper supervision.

Nationally, gaming machines will be phased out from these premises over the next two years as their current permits expire, although this should not be an issue in Rochdale as the Council has always had a policy that such permits should not be issued to these types of premises.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, Cabinet member for the Environment and Sustainability, whose responsibilities including licensing, said: "Local authorities have a much greater role under the new gambling rules.

"Everyone that runs a business offering gambling is affected by the changes in the gambling laws. My message to all gambling operators is that if you don't apply for your premises licence by 30 July you will be making life much harder for yourself. There will be no guarantee that you will be licensed to run your business from the 1 September 2007 and you may even have to close while you reapply as a new business."