Gaming Premises Licences

There are three types of licence that a business owner may require when setting up gambling premises. Your business may need all three

The types of licences are:

an operating licence issued by the Gambling Commission
a personal management licence issued by the Gambling Commission
a personal function licence issued from the Gambling Commission
a premises licence issued by the local authority

If you provide facilities for remote gambling (which includes the internet, telephone, television, radio or any other kind of electronic or other technology for facilitating communication), you will need a licence from the Gambling Commission.

How to apply for a licence

As from 1 September 2007, the Gambling Act 2005 came into effect. Applications for a Premises Licence are therefore now required for the following classes of premises:

Betting Premises (including Tracks)
Casino Premises
Bingo Premises
Adult Gaming Centres
Licensed Family Entertainment Centres

Any person that wishes to operate gambling premises requires an Operator's Licence from the Gambling Commission. In addition, certain specified individuals will also require personal licenses from the Gambling Commission. The Commission will carry out extensive investigations into the suitability of individuals. Contact details for the Gambling Commission are available in the appendix 2 of the Gambling Act 2005 - Statement of Principles 2025 document.

When considering the application, the Licensing Authority will focus on the use of the premises and consider the three licensing objectives of:

Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime and disorder or being used to support crime
Ensuring gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
Protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling

To apply, please complete the relevant form below:

Document Checklist

An application for a Premises Licence must be made to the relevant Licensing Authority, that is, the authority within whose area the premises is situated. To make an application you must submit:

A properly completed application form
A plan of the premises (see Guidance relevant to plans)
The correct fee
Proof of your right to occupy the premises or may expect to acquire such a right (this refers to a track application).
A Notice is to be given to all the Responsible Authorities. (Form A to be used if one applicant, Form B used if more than one applicant). A full list of the Responsible Authorities is available in the appendix 2 of the Gambling Act 2005 - Statement of Principles 2025 document). Notice must be given within a period of 7 days beginning on the date on which the application is made. It is the applicant's duty to send copies of the relevant notice to the Responsible Authorities.

If the notice is not served the Licensing Authority may not grant a Premises Licence until the notice requirements have been adhered to and the Responsible Authorities have been given the relevant period in which to respond.

The Gambling 2005 Act also requires you to advertise your application for a Premises Licence. This occurs in two ways, both of which must be satisfied:

By placing an advertisement in a local newspaper on at least one occasion during the period of ten working days starting with the day after the day which the application is made to the authority; and
By displaying a notice on the premises to which the application relates
In a place at which it can conveniently be read by members of the public from the exterior of the premises
For a period of no less than 28 consecutive days starting on the day on which the application is made to the licensing authority

If the advert is not placed or displayed the Licensing Authority may not grant a Premises Licence until the advertising requirements have been adhered to and interested parties have been given the relevant period in which to respond.

Premises application

Vary application

Transfer application

The notice period for all new, variations and transfer applications is stated in Gambling Act 2005 legislation.

You also need to pay the relevant fee. You can do this online at www.fenland.gov.uk/pay.

Gambling Act 2005 - Requirements for plans

The plan must show:

The extent of the boundary or perimeter of the premises
Where the premises include, or consist of, one or more buildings, the location of any external or internal walls of each such building
Where the premises form part of a building, the location of any external or internal walls of the building which are included in the premises
Where the premises are a vessel or part of a vessel, the location of any part of the sides of the vessel, and of any internal walls of the vessel, which are included in the premises
The location of each point of entry to and exit from the premises, including in each case a description of the place from which entry is made or to which the exit leads and
Any other matter required in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation

Plan requirements to VARY a premises licence

Where the application includes an application to vary the plan which forms part of the premises licence under section 151(1)(g), the application must be accompanied by a scale plan which shows the matters that would be required if the application were for the issue of a new premises licence

Of the same type as that to which the application relates
And which includes the variations specified in the application

Where the application is for a BINGO premise licence in respect of which children or young persons will be permitted access, the plan must show;

The location and extent of any part of the premises to which will be used to provide facilities for gaming in reliance on the licence (other than those parts which include Category B or C machines)
The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence
The nature and location of any barrier or other thing separating any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use from any other part of the premises

Where the application is for an ADULT GAMING CENTRE premises licence, the plan must show the location and extent of any part of the premises in which gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence.

Where the application is for a FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT LICENCE premises licence, the plan must show:

The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category C gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence
The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category D gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence
The nature and location of any barrier or other thing separating any part of the premises in which Category C gaming machines will be made available for use from any other part of the premises

Where the application is for a BETTING premises licence, other than in respect of a track, the plan must show the location and extent of any part of the premises which will be used to provide facilities for gambling in reliance on the licence;

Where the application is for a premises licence in respect of a TRACK, the plan must show:

The location and extent of any part of the premises which is a five times betting rule area
The location and extent of any part of the premises which will be used for providing betting facilities in reliance on the licence
The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence
The nature and location of any barrier or other thing separating any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use from any other part of the premises

(''five times betting rule area", in relation to a track, means any part of the track in respect of which, in accordance with conditions attached under section 167, the charge for admission to that part of the track payable by betting operators may not exceed five times the cost of the highest charge paid by members of the public who are authorised to enter that part of the track)

Plan requirements for a provisional statement

An application under section 204 for a provisional statement must be accompanied by a scale plan which complies with the requirements for a premises licence.

Where the application relates to premises which the applicant expects to be constructed or altered, any reference to the premises to which the application relates is to have effect for the purposes of this regulation as a reference to those premises as they are expected to be when constructed or altered.

Any reference to an application for a particular kind of premises licence is to have effect for the purposes of this regulation as a reference to an application for a provisional statement in respect of premises whose use would require the same kind of premises licence.

Determination of the Application

The Act places a duty on the licensing authority to aim to permit the use of premises for gambling provided the authority considers your application to be in accordance with:

The Codes of Practice
The Gambling Commissions Guidance
The Statement of Gambling Policy

and your application is made in accordance with the licensing objectives.

Only Responsible Authorities, the Licensing Authority and Interested Parties can make representations against your application. If there are no representations made, the licence will ordinarily be granted subject to Mandatory Conditions.

Mandatory Conditions will appear on all Premises Licences as prescribed by regulation for each type of licence.

If there are relevant representations made, the licensing authority will inform the applicant who may be invited to seek discussions in order to seek to negotiate a satisfactory outcome.

Where a hearing is needed guidance on the licensing authority's 'hearing procedure' can be found on guidance notes on the website.

The Licensing Authority will issue a Notice of Grant or Rejection for each application made.

In addition, Default Conditions have been prescribed by regulation and the Licensing Authority may add or remove these from the Premises Licence. If the Licensing authority considers it appropriate to vary the default conditions or add further conditions, you will be notified prior to the application being determined and a hearing will take place.

Each application will be considered on its own merit.

Please email completed forms to licensing@fenland.gov.uk. You can also post them to the Licensing Department, Fenland District Council, Melbourne Avenue, March, PE15 0EN.