Have your say on our gambling policy statement of principles. 8 March to 18 April 2024. This consultation is closed.
About the licensing of gambling activities: gambling policy statement of principles
Herefordshire Council (the council) is reviewing its gambling policy statement of principles. This must be reviewed every three years, and the review includes a statutory consultation process. The consultation ran for six weeks.
Herefordshire Council is the licensing authority in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005. It is empowered to administer the following within the county:
- Premises licences including provisional statements, variations, transfers and reviews for premises including casinos, bingo, betting, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres
- Permits for gambling activities such as gaming machines, prize gaming and unlicensed family entertainment centres
- Temporary use notices
- Occasional use notices
- Registrations such as small society lotteries
The policy sets out how the council will handle and administer applications made in accordance with the Act and how it expects applicants to operate reasonably consistently with the following licensing objectives:
- 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
We've taken the opportunity to revise the content of the policy to reflect the latest guidance issued to licensing authorities by the Gambling Commission, which seeks to provide practical clarity to existing and potential licence holders and to assist council officers in correctly applying the legal provisions of the Gambling Act 2005.
The revision has led to only minor amendments.
View the gambling policy statement of principles
We asked for your views on the policy.
The consultation closed on 18 April 2024.
What happens next
Following the formal consultation process, consideration will be given to amending the policy before it is presented to full Council for approval and adoption of the policy.