About the Gambling Act 2005

The government’s reform of gambling, gaming and lottery laws became live on 1 September 2007.  The new regime affects everyone concerned with:

• betting offices
• amusement arcades
• casinos
• bingo halls
• betting at a racecourse
• amusement with prize machines in pubs
• gaming machines in clubs
• small lotteries

The Gambling Commission is the new body in charge of controlling gambling throughout the country.  It is responsible for giving advice and issuing the following:

• operating licences
• personal management licences
• personal functional licences

Application forms for these licences can be obtained by contacting the Gambling Commission (Please see link below).

City of York Council offers advice on, and is responsible for, licensing premises and issuing permits for gambling activities within our district. 

A premise licence can authorise the provision of facilities as follow:

• adult gaming centres
• family entertainment centres
• casino premises
• bingo premises
• betting premises
• betting tracks  

We will issue permits for:

• gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises
• gaming machines for members clubs
• other gaming activities in members clubs
• prize gaming
• category d machines in unlicensed family entertainment centres (these machines can be used by children, they have the lowest level of stake and prizes).

We will register small lotteries.

Applicants, the council and other agencies must all work to promote the three licensing objectives:

• keeping gambling crime free
• making sure that gambling is fair and open
• protecting children and vulnerable adults

Statement of Licensing Policy

As the Licensing Authority, we have a duty to produce a Licensing Policy. This Policy sets out the general approach we will take when making licensing decisions. The Policy is formally reviewed every three years. 

You can download the Statement of Licensing Policy on the right hand side of this page.

Further guidance is provided on the following websites:

Department of Culture, Media and Sport

Gambling Commission