Archived press release

Date Published: 06/12/06

Pubs, bookmakers, amusement arcades and bingo halls will soon have to start getting their gambling licenses from Aylesbury Vale District Council rather than from magistrates. The full council this week formally adopted a gambling policy which est...

Pubs, bookmakers, amusement arcades and bingo halls will soon have to start getting their gambling licenses from Aylesbury Vale District Council rather than from magistrates.

The full council this week formally adopted a gambling policy which establishes a clear set of principles for gambling in Aylesbury Vale.

The document has been drawn up under the new Gambling Act 2005, which states that all licensing authorities must publish a Statement of Gambling Policy which shows how they will exercise their functions under the new legislation.

The Gambling Act, which will come fully into effect from September 2007, transfers responsibility for betting, casino gaming and bingo premises from magistrates to local authorities and the newly established Gambling Commission. Permits will also be issued for gaming machines in pubs and clubs. Councils will be receiving licence and permit applications for all forms of gambling from 30 April next year.

In deciding applications the council will need to consider three ‘licensing objectives’:
• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder
• Ensuring it is conducted fairly and openly
• Protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling

The gambling policy makes it clear that the council would expect gambling operators to put in place strong safeguards to protect people, including supervised entry to premises and gaming areas where necessary, limits on the stakes and prizes allowed and excluding children from areas where there are adult-only gaming facilities.

Councillor Michael Edmonds, Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Health, said: “We are confident that this robust gambling policy will protect children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. Clearly the protection of these people is vitally important and we have specifically examined the legislation to make certain that we are maximising our effectiveness in this area. The safety of premises is also of vital importance and we will do everything in our power to ensure that gambling operators have the necessary measures in place to prevent crime and disorder.”

The adopted gambling policy will come into effect by 31 January 2007. It will be available to view online at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk from 1 January next year. Copies of the policy will also be available to view at the customer service centre in Aylesbury and the council’s area offices in Buckingham and Winslow.

For further information, or to discuss the gambling policy, please contact the council’s licensing team on 01296 585560/585502 or email licensing@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk