The Gambling Act 2005

Similar to the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005 gives Chester City Council new responsibilities, challenges and opportunities.  It replaces most of the existing law about gambling in Great Britain and puts in place an improved, more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation.  This includes a new structure of flexible protections with three main aims:-

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

It also brings the burgeoning Internet gaming sector within British regulation for the first time.  It creates a new independent regulatory body, the Gambling Commission, which will be the new, tough national regulator for commercial gambling in Great Britain.

Please use the links below to navigate around the site:

Application Forms

• (Under Construction - Please contact the Licensing Team using the details below to obtain a form)
• Gambling Act 2005 Fees

Guidance and Information

• (Under Construction - Please contact the Licensing Team using the details below for Giudance)
• Public Register
• A list of all Licences issued by Chester City Council.

Implementation

The target for full implementation of the Act is 1 September 2007.  The Department of Culture Media and Sport (external link) is working with the Gambling Commission, local authorities, specialist problem gambling charities and the industry to ensure the Acts' smooth implementation.

One of the Council's first jobs was to produce a Statement of Principles (Gambling Act 2005) (150kb) .  This Statement sets out how the authority intends to exercise its functions under the Act and the principles it intends to apply.  This was published on the 16th December 2006 and will be reviewed every three year.  If you would like to comment on or be consulted on this or any other policy, please do not hesitate to contact the Licensing Team.

For more information see the Gambling Act Factsheet (405kb)

For more information or any assistance on the Gambling Act please contact the Licensing Team at  licensing@chester.go.uk or on 01244 402300, 402 138 or 402 646.