Gambling Act Permits

Applicants are strongly urged to complete online applications as the default position. Post is not being opened as frequently, therefore applications posted to us may not be received or considered promptly. Should you be making a representation to an application please email this to us. The licensing team can be contacted at licensing@spelthorne.gov.uk or 01784 444213 option 3.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, permits are issued to premises that either offer very low-stakes and prizes gambling, or premises where the provision of gambling facilities is not the primary function.

That means that the only premises eligible to apply tithe Council for permits are:

• unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres
• Alcohol Licensed Premises (premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 for consumption of alcohol on the premises. These premises must not be subject to condition requiring that alcohol sales are ancillary to food sales and alcohol must be served from behind a bar in order to qualify for a permit)
• clubs - both commercial and non-commercial
• premises wishing to offer commercial prize-gaming

What types of permits will we issue?

We will issue the following types of Permit under the Act (the links will take you to more information on each permit):

• Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permit
• Club Gaming and Club Machine Permits
• Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit
• Prize Gaming Permit

There are several key differences between a Permit and a Gambling Premises Licence:

• permit applicants/holders are not required to have an Operating Licence issued by the Gambling Commission
• there are no responsible authorities or interested parties in relation to Permit applications
• we can only grant or reject Permits. We can not attach conditions
• the Gambling Commission has less power and involvement in relation to Permits than they do with a Gambling Premises Licence
• except for Permits relating to alcohol licensed premises, Permits are of limited duration