City of York Council's Licensing team is reminding businesses that offer gambling in York are being reminded that they need to apply for a premises licence by 30 July before the new Gambling Act comes into force on 1 September.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, nearly all businesses offering gambling must have a new premises licence, including arcades, betting shops and bingo clubs. They will also need to have an operating licence from the Gambling Commission. Both these licences are applied for separately and businesses don't need to 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 a new regulator, the Gambling Commission, who 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 be 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. Gaming machines will be phased out from these premises over the next two years as their current permits expire.

Dick Haswell, head of Licensing and Regulation, at City of York Council, said: "Local authorities have a much greater role under the new gambling rules. Everyone who runs a business offering gambling is affected by the changes in the gambling laws.

"Our message to all gambling operators is that if you don't apply for your premises licence by the 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."