Saturday, February 24, 2007

New laws come into effect later this year which mean that anyone who wants
to run a gambling business in the North East area, including local betting
shops, amusement arcades, bingo halls and casinos, must apply for a licence.
The Gambling Commission will be responsible for licensing and regulating
gambling in Britain under the Gambling Act 2005 which comes into force on 1
September 2007. For the first time, the betting and internet gambling
industries will come under the regulator's power. "If you provide commercial
facilities for gambling in Britain you will have to be licensed by the
Commission, it is as simple as that," said Hazel Canter, the Commission's
Director of Licensing and Compliance. "Local bookmakers and other smaller
operators may find the new system difficult to manage at first but the
application forms and guidance notes are comprehensive. Further information
is on our website and we will help and support operators in the early stages
to get it right, particularly those in sectors new to being regulated by
us." There are three categories of licence - operating, personal and
premises - and businesses may need all three. The Commission will issue
operating and personal licences, while local licensing authorities will be
responsible for issuing premises licences. Examples of operators requiring a
licence include: anyone operating a casino; providing facilities for bingo,
betting, and pool betting; acting as a betting intermediary; making gaming
machines available for use in adult gaming centres or family entertainment
centres; manufacturing, supplying, installing, adapting, maintaining or
repairing a gaming machine, part of a gaming machine, and producing gambling
software; and promoting a lottery. In considering an application for an
operating licence, the Commission will look at how the operator will meet
the three licensing objectives of keeping crime out of gambling, ensuring
that gambling is fair and open, and protecting children and other vulnerable
people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. Hazel Canter added: "New
operators can make their applications now. Existing operators can continue
working beyond 1 September 2007 as long as their operating licence
applications are with the Commission before 27 April 2007. Similarly any
premises licence applications need to be made by 31 July to guarantee
continued operation by existing operators. Applications may be made for
premises licences to the local licensing authority from 21 May 2007."
Applicants, both operators and individuals will be assessed on five issues -
identity, suitability, including competence, criminality, finances and their
compliance with the licensing objectives. Once licensed all operators will
need to conduct their business in line with the Commission's licence
conditions and codes of practice.