licensing authority bulletin - Gambling Commission · 2017-12-04 · licensing authority bulletin...
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In this edition... News • Gambling firm 888 to pay over £7.8million for failing vulnerable customers • More progress needed to tackle problem gambling • Briefing to Scottish Parliament • Reception in the Welsh Assembly • Responsible Gambling Week • GambleAware hosts Scottish Parliament event • Commission raises awareness of potential risks for students who gamble Case studies • New Lancashire Police and Commission operation jails gaming machine coin thief Advice and guidance updates • New Third machine e-learning module launched • New Bongo Bingo • New Lottery ticket vending machines • New House raffles • New Reminder about direct access Information sharing • Six-monthly London boroughs meeting • New Gambling related legislation • New Gambleaware remote gambling research • New Scottish guidance on public entertainment licences for funfairs • New Publication of Scottish alcohol licence numbers Reference materials • Primary Authority (PA) FAQs • List of Primary Authority gambling agreements • Print friendly quick guides and template letters • Licensing authority inspection outcome letters and inspection guidance • Gambling Act statutory notices and forms • Premises licence register • Find operating licence holders • Change of licensing personnel? • Join our LinkedIn group licensing authority bulletin September 2017 Gambling firm 888 to pay over £7.8million for failing vulnerable customers 888, one of Britain’s biggest online gambling firms, is to pay a record penalty package of over £7.8million as a result of serious failings in its handling of vulnerable customers. The action follows the discovery of significant flaws in 888 UK Limited’s (888) social responsibility processes, which aim to protect consumers from gambling-related harm. Our investigation found: • Due to a technical failure in 888’s systems, over 7,000 customers who had chosen to self- exclude from their casino/poker/sport platform were still able to access their accounts on their bingo platform. The issue went undetected for a prolonged period of time, meaning customers were able to deposit £3.5million into their accounts, and then continue to gamble, for over 13 months. While 888 did have self- exclusion procedures in place, they were not robust enough and failed to protect potentially vulnerable customers. • 888 also failed to recognise visible signs of problem gambling behaviour displayed by an individual customer, which was so significant that it resulted in criminal activity. News Coming soon... October special LA bulletin Advance notice that in early October we will be issuing a bulletin focusing on the annual LA returns statistics. The bulletin will also feature a number of case studies which disprove a common (mis)perception that some officers and councillors have about gambling: ie ‘we don’t receive complaints so we don’t have any problems’.
Transcript of licensing authority bulletin - Gambling Commission · 2017-12-04 · licensing authority bulletin...
In this edition...
News• Gamblingfirm888topayover£7.8millionforfailingvulnerablecustomers
• Moreprogressneededtotackleproblemgambling
• BriefingtoScottishParliament• ReceptionintheWelshAssembly• ResponsibleGamblingWeek• GambleAwarehostsScottishParliamentevent• Commissionraisesawarenessofpotentialrisksforstudentswhogamble
Case studies • NewLancashirePoliceandCommissionoperationjailsgamingmachinecointhief
Advice and guidance updates• NewThirdmachinee-learningmodulelaunched• NewBongoBingo• NewLotteryticketvendingmachines• NewHouseraffles• NewReminderaboutdirectaccess
Information sharing • Six-monthlyLondonboroughsmeeting• NewGamblingrelatedlegislation• NewGambleawareremotegamblingresearch• NewScottishguidanceonpublicentertainmentlicencesforfunfairs
• NewPublicationofScottishalcohollicencenumbers
Reference materials• PrimaryAuthority(PA)FAQs• ListofPrimaryAuthoritygamblingagreements• Printfriendlyquickguidesandtemplateletters• Licensingauthorityinspectionoutcomelettersandinspectionguidance
• GamblingActstatutorynoticesandforms• Premiseslicenceregister• Findoperatinglicenceholders• Changeoflicensingpersonnel?• JoinourLinkedIngroup
licensing authority bulletinSeptember 2017
Gambling firm 888 to pay over £7.8million for failing vulnerable customers
888,oneofBritain’sbiggestonlinegamblingfirms,istopayarecordpenaltypackageofover£7.8millionasaresultofseriousfailingsinitshandlingofvulnerablecustomers.
Theactionfollowsthediscoveryofsignificantflawsin888UKLimited’s(888)socialresponsibilityprocesses,whichaimtoprotectconsumersfromgambling-relatedharm.Ourinvestigationfound:• Duetoatechnicalfailurein888’ssystems,over7,000customerswhohadchosentoself-excludefromtheircasino/poker/sportplatformwerestillabletoaccesstheiraccountsontheirbingoplatform.Theissuewentundetectedforaprolongedperiodoftime,meaningcustomerswereabletodeposit£3.5millionintotheiraccounts,andthencontinuetogamble,forover13months.While888didhaveself-exclusionproceduresinplace,theywerenotrobustenoughandfailedtoprotectpotentiallyvulnerablecustomers.
• 888alsofailedtorecognisevisiblesignsofproblemgamblingbehaviourdisplayedbyanindividualcustomer,whichwassosignificantthatitresultedincriminalactivity.
News
Coming soon...October special LA bulletinAdvancenoticethatinearlyOctoberwewillbeissuingabulletinfocusingontheannualLAreturnsstatistics.Thebulletinwillalsofeatureanumberofcasestudieswhichdisproveacommon(mis)perceptionthatsomeofficersandcouncillorshaveaboutgambling:ie‘wedon’treceivecomplaintssowedon’thaveanyproblems’.
licensing authority bulletin
Thecustomerstakedover£1.3million,including£55kstolenfromtheiremployer.Duringa13monthperiodthecustomerplacedalargenumberofbets,gamblingonaverage3-4hoursaday.Thelackofinteractionwiththecustomer,giventhefrequency,durationandsumsofmoneyinvolvedinthegambling,raisedseriousconcernsabout888’ssafeguardingofcustomersat-riskofgamblingharm.
Furtherdetailsavailableinourpublicstatement.
More progress needed to tackle problem gambling RecentlypublishedNatCenresearchonbehalfoftheCommissionshowsmoreprogressisneededtotackleproblemgamblinginGreatBritain.ThereportprovidesacomprehensiveanalysisofgamblingacrossallthenationsofGreatBritain-examiningtheratesofparticipation,at-riskgamblingandproblemgambling,andexplorestheassociatedcharacteristicsandbehaviours,combiningdatafromtheHealthSurveyforEngland2015,theScottishHealthSurvey2015andtheWalesOmnibusin2015.Headlinefindings:• 1.4%ofgamblerswereclassedasproblem
gamblers(0.8%ofthepopulation),with6.4%at-risk(3.9%ofthepopulation)–whichissimilartotheratepublishedinthe2012report.
• Problemgamblingwasmoreprevalentamongpeoplewhohadparticipatedinamultiplegamblingactivitiesinthepastyear,thanthosethathadjustparticipatedinone.
• 63%ofadults(aged16andover)inGreatBritainhadgambledinthepastyear.
• Men(66%)aremorelikelytogamblingthanwomen(59%).
• Mostpopulargamblingactivitieswere:NationalLotterydraws(46%),scratchcards(23%)andotherlotteries(15%).
• Overallparticipationwashighestamongthemiddleagegroupsandlowestamongtheyoungestandoldestagegroups.
• Thoseinemploymentortrainingweremorelikelytogamble(69%).Participationbythoseunemployedwasat56%and57%forthoseretired.
Briefing to Scottish ParliamentTobuildonourworkwiththeScottishParliament,werecentlyexhibitedattheParliamentatHolyrood.TheCommissionstandwasvisitedbyovertwentyMembersoftheScottishParliament(MSPs)andtheirstaffoverthe3days,whowerekeentodiscussFOBTsandremotegamblinginparticular,butwhoalsohighlightedarangeofissuesrelatingtogamblingharminbothruralandurbanareas.
AgroupMSPs,includingtheScottishGovernment’sLocalGovernmentMinister,KevinStewartMSP,theConveneroftheParliament’slocalGovernmentCommittee,BobDorisMSP,andStuartMcMillanMSPwhohasraisedarangeofgamblingrelatedissuesatHolyrood,alsoreceivedabriefingfromExecutiveDirectorTimMiller,TheCommissionhopestofollow-upontheinitiativewithfurthercontactwiththeScottishParliamentearlynextyear.
Reception in the Welsh Assembly TogetherwiththeDirectorsofPublicProtectionWaleswerecentlyhostedareceptionattheWelshAssemblyaimedatbuildingpartnershipstoreducegambling-relatedharm.
TheeventcomesonthebackofdatarecentlypublishedbytheCommissionthatshowedthereareapproximately27,000problemgamblersinWalesandafurther95,000atriskgamblers.
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TheMinisterforSocialServicesandPublicHealthRebeccaEvansAM,ChairofPublicProtectionWalesMarkElliottandSarahHarrison(ontheleftinthepicture)spokeattheevent,whichwasattendedbyPublicHealthWales,theChiefMedicalOfficerforWales,CitizensAdvice,policeandLAs.
MsHarrisonsaid:“Thereareover120,000peopleinWaleswhoareproblemgamblersoratriskofdevelopingaproblem.Theharmsthatcanarisefromgamblingcanbeevenmorewidereaching-affectingfamilies,businessesandcommunities.
“ByworkinginclosepartnershipwiththeWelshAssembly,localcouncils,andadvicebodiesweareseekingtotacklegambling-relatedharmandmakegamblingfairerandsaferforpeopleinWales.”
Responsible Gambling WeekAnational,cross-industryinitiativetopromoteresponsiblegambling,runningfrom12–18October2017.Duringtheweek,allsectorsofthegamblingindustry(arcades,bingoclubs,bookmakers,casinosandonline),inpartnershipwithspecialistcharitiesGambleAwareandGamCare,willcometogetherforthisunifiedcause.
Thecampaign’saimistoraiseawarenessamongstcustomersandthewiderpublicabouthowtogambleresponsibly,thetoolsthatareavailabletokeepgamblingsafeandfun,andwhereanyonecanfindhelpandsupportforthosewhoneedit.
Tospreadthemessageofresponsiblegamblingasfarandwideaspossible,theUKgamblingindustrywillbeleadingonarangeofactivitiesthroughtheweek:• Posters,leaflets,bannersandotherinformationpointsaboutRGWeekarebeingrolledoutacrossthecountryingamblingvenues,onindustrywebsitesandonsocialmediachannels,encouragingconversationsaboutgamblingresponsibly
• TheindustryisworkingwithGamCareanditspartnerstoestablishdedicatedinformationpointsaroundtheUKthatwillbeavailabletothegeneralpublicthroughouttheweek
• Staffatgamblingvenuesandonlinesiteswillcontinuetobepointsofcontactfortheircustomersonhowtogambleresponsibly
• OurpartnersGambleAwareandGamCarewillalsoberaisingawarenessaboutresponsiblegamblingthroughtheirwebsitesandcommunicationchannels
• OnlinechatroomsandinteractiveQ&AsessionsonsocialmediathroughdedicatedTwitterandFacebookaccountswillhelptoengagediscussionsaboutresponsiblegamblingmorebroadly
• AneventwillbeheldinParliamenttohelpbriefpoliticiansonwhatitmeanstogambleresponsiblyandwhattheycandotosharethemessagewiththeirconstituents.
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TheIndustryGroupforResponsibleGambling(IGRG)whichisrunningRGWeekisaskinglocalauthoritiestoparticipatetohelpspreadthemessagemorewidely.Togetinvolved,localauthoritiescanshareRGWeekmessagingandcollateralintheleaduptoandduringtheweek.Forexample,participatinglocalauthoritiescan:• Sharekeymessagingthroughtheirownmediachannelssuchasnewsletters,websitesandpressreleases;
• UsesocialmediachannelstosupportRGWeekbyfollowingandliking@RGWeek2017onTwitterandFacebookandbysharingorre-sharingcampaignmessagesduringtheweek;
• Sharethemessagingdigitally,viaforexamplemediascreensincounciloffices,librariesandcommunitycentres;
• PrintandplaceRGWeekcollateral(posters,leafletsandbanners)intheirvenue(s)throughouttheweek.
RGWeekcollateral(bothdigitalandforprinting)andmessagingisreadilyavailableandfreetouse,pleaseemailresponsiblegamblingweek@plmr.co.uktorequestit.Formoreinformation,pleasevisittheRGWeekwebsite,followonTwitterorlikeonFacebook.
GambleAware hosts Scottish Parliament eventInSeptemberGambleAware,hostedaneventintheScottishParliamenttoraiseawarenessofitsworkinScotlandandtohighlightgambling-relatedproblems.TheeventalsoaimedtoprovidepracticalguidanceandtrainingformembersoftheScottishParliament(MSP)andtheirstaffonhowtodealwithconstituentswhoaresufferingfrom,orshowingsignsof,gamblingrelatedproblems.
Guestsandattendeesheardfirst-handfromarecoveringgamblingaddictabouttheproblemstheyexperiencedwhichweredirectlylinkedtotheirgamblingaddictionbutmasqueradedasothercommonproblems.AttendeeswerethengivenpracticaltipsfromlocalGambleAwarefundedorganisationFastForwardonhowtopreventproblemgamblingthrougheducationaswellasguidancefromthelocaltreatmentcentreonhowtodealwithpeoplewhoaresufferingfromgamblingaddiction.
GambleAwarealsopresentedonwhyitwasimportanttoraiseawarenessofgamblingrelatedproblems,tohelpidentifyproblemgamblersaswellasgivingsomesuggestionsofhowattendeescanhelpraisetheprofileofthisproblemthroughparliamentaryquestionsandsocialmediapresence.
Commission raises awareness of potential risks for students who gambleWe’vepublishedsometipsforstudentsabouthowtoavoidriskygamblingandthesupportthatisavailableshouldtheyfeeltheirgamblingisbecomingaproblem.Thiscomesfollowingnewfiguresindicating2in3studentsgambleaccordingtoournewfigures.Whilstmanymaydosowithoutexperiencingharm,forsome,gamblingcanleadtodebt,timeawayfromlecturesandpotentiallyleadtoalongertermproblemwithgambling.
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Lancashire Police and Commission operation jails gaming machine coin thiefAmanhasbeenjailedfor20monthsfollowingajointoperationbetweenLancashirePoliceandtheCommission.Themanusedanarrayoftoolsandequipmenttostealmorethan£14,000frompubsandclubsacrossthecountry.AjointinvestigationwithLancashirePolice,usingsourcesofevidence,suchascompellingCCTVfootagewhichidentifiedtheoffender,ledtothemanbeingcapturedandjailed.
HelenVenn,Commissionprogrammedirectorforcompliancesaid:“Hereisanotherexcellentexampleofhowmulti-agencypartnershipscandeliverresults,andhelpkeepcrimeoutofgambling.
“Theteamworkingonthisjointoperationworkedquicklyandeffectively,usingtheevidenceandintelligenceavailabletothemtoidentifytheoffenders,andreducetheimpactthishadonboththegamingmachinesuppliers,thealcohollicensedpremisesandpublic.”
LAsandpoliceareencouragedtosendcasestudiesforinclusioninfuturebulletins.Pleasesupplydetailstoinfo@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Third machine e-learning module launched
WehavebeenworkingwiththeInstituteofLicensing(IOL)toproduceaseriesofe-learningmodulesongamingmachinesandhavenowproducedthethirdandfinalmoduleinthisseries.
ThemodulesaredesignedtohelpLAsimprovetheirunderstandingofgamingmachinesandhowtheyareregulated.
Module1covers:•TheroleofLAsintheregulationofgambling•Whatisagamingmachine•Thevarioustypesofgamingmachines
Module2covers:•Thephysicalcomponentsofagamingmachine•Howgamingmachineswork•Thesignagedisplayedongamingmachines
Newmodule3covers:•Compliantmachinesininappropriateplaces(illegalsiting)•Examplesoftypesofnon-compliantmachines•Howtotakeregulatoryaction.
Thesemodulescanbeaccessedbyanybody.YoucanaccessthesemodulesviatheIOLwebsite,andtheyareCPDaccredited(basedona30minuteaverage).Onceonthewebsitesimplyclickonthee-learningtabonthetopright,thenloginifyouhaveanexistingaccount,orrequestaloginviamembership@instituteoflicensing.orgtogetstarted.
Pleasenote,thatthegamingmachinessectorisadiverseandcomplexoneandthistrainingisonlydesignedtogiveabasicintroduction,forhelpwithcomplexissuesseekspecialistadvice.
Weareconsideringtopicsforfuturee-learningmodulesforlicensingauthoritiesandpolice,[email protected].
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Advice and guidance
Case studies
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Bongo BingoWehavegrantedanon-remotebingooperatinglicencetoSHUALtd,morecommonlyknownasBongoBingo,allowingthemtoprovidefacilitiesforhighturnoverbingo(ietheaggregatestakesorprizesforbingoinanysevendayperiodmayexceed£2,000).ThecompanytypicallyprovidesequalchancegamingatpubsandnightclubsthroughoutBritain,inrelianceonthealcohollicenceheldbythepremises,andthereforedoessoundertherulesforexemptgaming.
LAsshouldbeawarethatoneoftheconditionsofthisoperator’slicenceisthattheymustnotifyboththeCommissionandtherelevantLAat least 28 daysbeforeanyeventtakesplaceinnewpremises,byprovidingadescriptionoftheeventtakingplace,acopyofthepremisescontractandanyamendmenttotherulestothebingo.
LAsareremindedofinformationintheMayLABulletinaboutparticipationfeesforbingoplayedasequalchancegaminginpubsandotheralcohol-licensedpremises.LAswithconcernsaboutalcohollicensedpremisesplayingbingowithstakesandprizesexceedingthe£2,000weeklylimitorwherethereisapossiblefeetoplay,shouldcontacttheircompliancemanagerinthefirstinstance.
Lottery ticket vending machinesLotteryticketvendingmachinesshouldnotbeconfusedwithB3AgamingmachinesthatofferlotterystylegamesbutareclassedasgamingmachinesandsubjecttoseparateandspecificrequirementsundertheAct.FurthertotheJunebulletinitem,aboutwheresuchmachinescanbelocated,wehavenowaddedtotheinformationonourwebsiteaboutthesemachinesincludingdetailsofhowandwheretheycanlawfullysited,andtherequirementstodoso.
House rafflesFollowingarecentfeatureontheBBC’sOneShow,LAsareremindedabouttheriseinthenumberofhomeownersofferingtheirhouseasaprize,eitherthroughpeoplebuyingaticketinadraw,orbypayingtoenteracompetition.Ourconcernisthatweareseeinginstanceswhereorganisersarebreakingthelawastheirschemehasbeensetupinawaythatmeansitisanillegallottery.
Raffles,orlotteriesastheyarecalledingamblinglaw,arewhereyoupaytoenterandtheresultispurelybasedonchance-likeatombolaordraw-andthereisaprize.Undergamblinglawlotteriesareaformofgamblingandtherearerulesabouthowtheycanberunandwhocanrunthem.Thepersonconcernedmayneedalicencefromusoraregistrationwiththeirlocalauthoritybeforetheycanpromotealottery.
Othersmalllotteries,suchasthosepromotedatfundraisingeventscanoperatewithoutspecificpermissionbuttheyarestillsubjecttosomebasicrules.
Mostimportantly,lotteriescanonlyberunforgoodcauses–suchascharities,hospices,air-ambulanceservicesorothernot-for-profitcauses,theycannotberunforprivateorcommercialgain.Charitiesandothernon-commercialorganisationswhorunlotteriesrelyheavilyontheincometheyreceivefromlotteriestosupporttheimportantworktheydo.
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Lastyearalonesawsocietylotterieslicensedbyusraise£230millionforgoodcauses–anditisimportantthatthisareaofgamblingispreservedforthosegoodcausesratherthanbeingusedunlawfullyforprivateorcommercialgain.
Mostoftherecenthouseraffleschemesweareawareofhavebeenoperatedasfreedrawsorprizewhicharenotlegallycaughtasgamblingwhichwedonotregulatenorprovideadviceonhowtheyshouldbeorganised.However,theseschemescanlooksimilartolotteriesandsowehaveproducedguidanceonfreedrawsandprizecompetitions,whichprovidesometipsonthedifferencebetweenlotteries,competitionsandfreedraws.
Wecontinuetomonitortheboundarybetweenlot-teries,competitionsandfreedrawstomakesurethatpeoplewhoorganiselotteriesoperatelawfully,andifnecessary,areproperlylicensed.Weknowmanypeoplerunningthesekindofschemeswillwanttobecreativetogivetheirprizecompetitionorfreedrawsomeappeal,buttheymustfollowtherules.
LAswithconcernsabouthouserafflesintheirareashouldcontacttheirlocalcompliancemanager.
Reminder about direct access
Duringsomerecentjointvisits,wehavebecomeawareofanumberofbreachesofthemandatoryanddefaultpremiseslicenceconditionsinrelationtodirectaccessbetweengamblingpremises.Examplesinclude:•Afamilyentertainmentcentre(FEC)andadjoiningadultgamingcentre(AGC)bothwiththeirownentrancesfromthestreetbutwithdirectaccessbetweenthetwointernally.
•SeveralpremiseswheretherewasjustanareaofcarpetseparatingtheFECandAGCs(insomeinstancesthecarpetwasallthesamecolour)
•Anarcadewithdirectaccessbetweenthe3AGCsandalsointotheuFEC.
FollowingdiscussionsbetweentheLA,usandtheoperator,theseissuesarenowbeingrectifiedtoachievecompliancewiththeconditions.
LAsareremindedoftheaccessrequirementsinrelationtopremises.IntheAct,‘premises’isdefinedasincluding‘anyplace’.S152thereforepreventsmorethanonepremiseslicenceapplyingtoanyplace.But,thereisnoreasoninprinciplewhyasinglebuildingcouldnotbesubjecttomorethanonepremiseslicence,providedtheyarefordifferentpartsofthebuilding,andthedifferentpartsofthebuildingcanreasonablyberegardedasbeingdifferentpremises.
Thisapproachhasbeentakentoallowlarge,multipleunitpremisessuchaspleasureparks,tracks,orshoppingmallstoobtaindiscretepremiseslicences,whereappropriatesafeguardsareinplace.However,LAsshouldpayparticularattentionifthereareissuesaboutsub-divisionofasinglebuildingorplotandshouldensurethatmandatoryconditionsrelatingtoaccessbetweenpremisesareobserved.
TheGamblingAct2005(MandatoryandDefaultConditions)Regulations(SI2007/1409forEnglandandWalesandSSI2007/266forScotland)setouttheaccessprovisionsforeachtypeofpremises.Thebroadprincipleisthatthere can be no access from one licensed gambling premises to another,exceptbetweenpremiseswhichallowaccesstothoseundertheageof18andwiththefurtherexceptionthatlicensedbettingpremisesmaybeaccessedfromotherlicensedbettingpremises.Under-18scangointoFECs,tracks,pubsandsomebingoclubs,soaccessisallowedbetweenthesetypesofpremises.
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TheseRegulationsdefinestreetas‘includinganybridge,road,lane,footway,subway,square,court,alleyorpassage(includingpassagesthroughenclosedpremisessuchasshoppingmalls)whetherathoroughfareornot’.Thisistoallowaccessthroughareaswhichthepublicmightenterforpurposesotherthangambling,forexample,accesstocasinosfromhotelfoyers.
Thereisnodefinitionof‘directaccess’intheActorregulations,butLAsmayconsiderthatthereshouldbeanareaseparatingthepremisesconcerned,forexampleastreetorcafe,whichthepublicgotoforpurposesotherthangambling,fortheretobenodirectaccess.
Therelevantaccessprovisionsforeachpremisestypeisasfollows:
Type of premises Access provisionsCasinos •theprincipalentrancetothe
premisesmustbefroma‘street’•noentrancetoacasinomustbefrompremisesthatareusedwhollyormainlybychildrenand/oryoungpersons•nocustomermustbeabletoenteracasinodirectlyfromanyotherpremiseswhichholdsagamblingpremiseslicence.
AGCs •nocustomermustbeabletoaccessthepremisesdirectlyfromanyotherlicensedgamblingpremises.
Bettingshops •accessmustbefroma‘street’orfromotherpremiseswithabettingpremiseslicence•nodirectaccessfromabettingshoptoanotherpremisesusedfortheretailsaleofmerchandiseorservices.Ineffecttherecannotbeanentrancetoabettingshopfromashopofanykindunlessthatshopisitselfalicensedbettingpremises.
Tracks •nocustomermustbeabletoaccessthepremisesdirectlyfromacasinoorAGC
Bingopremises •nocustomermustbeabletoaccessthepremisesdirectlyfromacasino,anAGCorabettingpremises,otherthanatrack
FECs •nocustomermustbeabletoaccessthepremisesdirectlyfromacasino,anAGCorabettingpremises,otherthanatrack
Section7oftheGuidancetoLicensingAuthoritiescontainsdetailedinformationaboutthepremiseslicenceregulationsandwehaveaquickguideonmulti-activitysites.IfLAshaveconcernsaboutanynewapplicationsofthissort,oraboutarrangementsthatarealreadyinplace,pleasecontactyourcompliancemanagerinthefirstinstance.
Six-monthly London boroughs meeting WeareholdingoursecondmeetingoftheyearforlicensingofficersfromLondonBoroughsonThursday5October2017inCamdentownhall.UpdateswillbeprovidedontopicsincludingStatementofPoliciesandGambleaware.Londonlicensingauthoritiesshouldcontactinfo@gamblingcommission.gov.ukifyouhaven’talreadyreceivedyourinvitation.
Gambling related legislationAlistofgamblingrelatedlegislationisavailableonourwebsitealthoughyoushouldverifyforyourselfwhetherlegislationisinforceorwhetherithasbeenamendedorrepealedbysubsequentlegislation.
Gambleaware remote gambling research RecentlypublishedresearchcommissionedbyGambleawarehasshownthatonlinegamblingoperatorscanusethedatatheyholdoncustomerplaytospotthosewithgamblingproblemsoratriskofdevelopingproblems.
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Information sharing
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Over10,000customersgavepermissionfortheirdatatobeused.
Inthedataongamblers’play,theresearchfoundindicatorsthat,whenconsideredcollectively,arestrongsignsofpotentiallyproblematicgambling.Theyinclude:●Averagenumberofbetsperday–non-problemgamblerstypicallybetbetween2-7timesaday,whereasproblemgamblerstypicallybetbetween5-90timesaday.
●Higheraveragevalueofbetplaced–non-problemgamblerstypicallybetjust£14onadaywhentheybet,whereasproblemgamblersbetonaverage£98.
●Timeofdayandweek–problemgamblersinthestudyweremorelikelytoplacebetsbetweenmidnightand4am,andtogamblethroughouttheweek,ratherthanmainlyonaSaturday,whennon-problemgamblersdomostoftheirgambling.
●Deposits–problemgamblersmakemoredeposits,evenaftertakingintoaccountthattheygamblemore.Theoccurrenceofafaileddepositwasalsoariskindicator.
●Volatility–problemgamblersinthestudyexperiencedhighvariationintheamountwonandtheamountlost,andextremelosses.
Scottish guidance on public entertainment licences for funfairsInJulytheScottishGovernmentpublishedCivicGovernment(Scotland)Act1982Guidanceonpublicentertainmentlicencesrelatingtofunfairs.TheguidancerelatestotheroleofScottishLAsinconsideringandgrantingapplicationsforfunfairs.ScottishLAsareremindedofourquickguidewhichsetsoutthemachineentitlementspermittedatfairsandfairgrounds.
Publication of Scottish alcohol licence numbersTheliquorlicensingstatisticsScotland2016-17wererecentlypublished,providingdataonpremisesandpersonallicencesinforce,applicationsandreviews,aswellasnumbersoflicensingstandardsofficers(LSOs)employedandthenumberofoccasionallicencesissued.
Thestatisticsindicated:•Theoverallnumberofpremiseslicencesinforceon31March2017,atjustunder16,700,hasshownaveryslightupwardtrendoverthelastsevenyears,increasingby2percentsinceMarch2011.Around70%oflicencesrelatedtoonsalesonly.UndertheGamblingAct2005premisesholdingalcoholpremiseslicenceshaveanautomaticentitlementtooperatecertaintypesandnumbersofgamingmachines.•Scottishlocalauthoritiesemployedafull-timeequivalentof57LSOsatMarch2017,thesameasin2016.TheCityofEdinburghemployedthelargestnumberofLSOswithafulltimeequivalentofseven,withAberdeenshire,FifeandGlasgoweachemployingfour.
Gambling training modules for LAsWehaveanumberofrefreshermodulesforlicensingofficerswhichcompliancemanagerscandeliverattheseatregional/IOLlicensingmeetings.Modulesavailableare:•Moneylaundering-new• Illegalbettinginpubs•Pokerinpubs•Smallsocietylotteries•Clubgamingandclubmachinepermits• TestpurchasinginEnglandandWales•Gamingmachines•Bettingattracks•Moneylaundering(forpolice/LAs)•Policepowersonconductinggamblingpremisesinspections(ingamblingpremisesandalcohollicensedpremisesinEnglandandWales)
•Permitrenewals.
Ifyouareinterestedinreceivingsuchtraining,pleasecontactyourcompliancemanager.
List of Primary Authority gambling agreements GamblingPrimaryAuthorities(PA)agreementssignedtodate.LAsareremindedthatthereisno restrictiononanyLAswishingtoundertakeproactivetestpurchasingactivitywherethePAhasnotdevelopedaNationalInspectionStrategy.PleasecontactthePAdirectlyifyouwishtoparticipateintheNIStesting.
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MiltonKeynes-Ladbrokes/Coralsfrom2October(withNationalInspectionStrategy)MiltonKeynes-WelcomeBreakfrom2OctoberReading-PaddyPower(withNationalInspectionStrategy)Reading-BACTAReading-ABBWestminster-WilliamHill
LAsshouldcheckthePrimaryAuthorityregistertoseewhichtradeassociationmembershavesigneduptotheBACTAandABBagreements(youneedtosearchforReadingorforthenameoftheoperatoritself).
AsetoffrequentlyaskedquestionsisavailableonthePAregister(loginthensearchofforaPAgamblingpartnership–listedabove–andthengototheadvice/informationsectionoftheregister).
TheyexplainthebackgroundtoPAgamblingagreementsandthedifferencebetweenPAadviceandNIS.TheFAQssetouthowoperatorsusethirdpartyageverificationtesting,howthetestsareconductedandwhathavingaPArelationshipmeans.Print friendly quick guides and templates LAsareremindedthatwehaveanumberofquickguides.Somearedesignedtogivetooperatorswhenundertakingvisits,othersprovideanaccessiblehowtoforlicensingstaff.Forprintfriendlyversions:justclickontheprintfriendlyinstructiononthefrontofeachquickguideandmakesureyourprinterissettoprintonbothsidesofthepaper:•Moneylaundering•Gamingmachinesinpubs•Racenight,casinonightorpokernight•Members’cluborcommercialclub•Pokerinclubs•Pokerinpubs• Facilitatingbettinginpubsandclubsisillegal•Skillswithprizes• Illegalgamingmachines•ComparinglotteryticketdispensersandB3Amachines
• Illegalsitingofgamingmachines• Fairsandfairgrounds•Runningalottery•Runningprizecompetitionsandfreedraws•Multi-activitysites•PolicestatutorypowersundertheGamblingAct
Examplesofnon-complexcategoryDgamingmachinesandinformationabouthowtheyshouldbecorrectlylabelledascategoryDnon-complexcranegrabmachinesisalsoavailableinthissectionofthewebsite.
Examplelettertemplatesarealsoavailable,whichLAsmaywishtousewhendealingwithissuessuchasillegalmachinesinpubs,andillegalpokerorbettinginpubsandthirdpartiesrunningpokerinclubs.
WealsohavecompiledalistofsampleconditionsthatLAhaveattachedtopremiseslicences.Theseareprovidedforillustrativepurposesonly.Theyprovideexamplesofsortsofconditionsalicensingauthoritymaywishtothinkaboutwhenaddressingsimilarevidencedbasedconcernswithinalocalarea.
Licensing authority inspection outcome letters and inspection guidance In2013,weworkedtogetherwiththeLeicester,LeicestershireandRutlandLicensingForumandtheLeicesterandLeicestershireEnterprisePartnership(LLEP)tocreatetemplatesforassessmentsatgamblingpremises.ThetemplatesincludedreferencetothesocialresponsibilitycodeprovisionsissuedbytheCommissionunders153oftheAct.WealsojointlycreatedasuiteofletterstoassistLAsincommunicatingtheassessmentoutcometooperators.
ThesedocumentswerelastupdatedinOctober2016andnowincludeasimpleriskratingsystemforLAstouseaspartoftheirinspectionplanningifrequired.Atthesametime,2newassessmenttemplateswereadded–amachinemonitoringchecklistandacrimeandantimoneylaunderingchecklist.YoucanfindtheassessmenttemplatestheLLEPwebsite.
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Gambling Act statutory notices and forms
LAsareadvisedthatDCMShasaskedtheCommissiontohostallthestatutorynoticesandapplicationformsontheCommission’swebsiteastheyarenolongeravailableontheDCMSwebsite.
Using the right formsItisastatutoryrequirementthatapplicantsusethecorrectformstogivepropernoticeofapplications,variationsetctoallresponsibleauthorities,includingtheCommission(part3,s12and13oftheGamblingAct2005(PremisesLicencesandProvisionalStatements)Regulations2007).
LAsalsohavestatutorydutiestonotifytheCommissionaswellastheapplicantandotherresponsibleauthoritiesofthegrant/rejectionofapplications(new,variations,transfersetc)aswellastherevocation,surrenderorlapseofapremiseslicenceusingthecorrectstatutoryforms.
Havingallthestatutoryforms(bothinEnglishandinWelsh)inoneplaceshouldhelpyoutocomplywiththosestatutoryprocesses.
InadditionweareawarethatthegamblingpagesonmanyLAwebsitessignpostapplicantstotheDCMSwebsiteformoreinformation.Asyouwillknowtheseparategovernmentdepartmentsnowallusethewww.gov.ukwebsiteandmuchofthehistoricgamblingmaterialisnolongeravailable.LAsmaywishtoreviewandupdatetheirwebsites,signpostingtotheCommission’swebsitewhereappropriate.
Premises licence register LAsareremindedthattheinformationonthepubliclyavailablepremisesregisterisbasedonthestatutorynotificationsreceivedfromLAsregardinggrants,variations,revocations,lapsesetc,andisupdatedmonthly.LAsareencouragedtouseemailtosubmitdetailsofgrants,transfers,notices,revocations,permitssendingallnecessarycorrespondencetoinfo@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Inrelationtogamingmachines,pleaseonlysharenoticesofgrant/rejectionofClubMachinesPermitsandGamingMachinePermits,asthereisnorequirementtoadviseuswhenanalcohollicenceholdersubmitstheirnotificationforanautomaticentitlementtotwogamingmachines.HoweverLAsmustkeeparecordofhowmanyautomaticentitlementnotificationsitreceiveseachyear,asthatinformationisrequestedintheannualLAreturns.
Find operating licence holdersOurpublicregistercontainsnamesofallcompaniesandindividualswhohold,orhaveappliedfor,operatinglicencesinGreatBritainalongwiththenamesofcompaniesorindividualswhoselicenceshavelapsed,beenrevoked,forfeited,expired,suspendedorsurrenderedinthelast6months.
LAsareremindedtochecktheoperatorlicencequotedonpremisesapplicationswiththeregisterbeforegrantingapremiseslicence.
Anapplicationforpremiseslicencemayonlybemadebypersonswhohaveanoperatinglicencewhichallowsthemtocarryouttheproposedactivity,forexample,abingooperatinglicenceforabingopremises,orhaveappliedforanoperatinglicence(althoughthepremiseslicencecannotbedetermineduntilanoperatinglicencehasbeenissued).
Change of licensing personnel?Wetrytoensureourcontactrecordsareup-to-date,butpleasehelpusoutbylettingusknowwhenthereareanychangesofgamblingcontactsinyourLAsothatourcommunicationsreachthecorrectperson.
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Join our LinkedIn group OurlicensingofficersandLAsgroupisaimedathelpinglicensingofficersunderstandthekeyroleLAsplayingamblingregulationinGreatBritain.
YoucansharegoodpracticeandfindouthowLAshaveanumberofregulatoryfunctionsincludingissuingpremiseslicences,regulatinggamingandgamingmachinesinclubsandpubs,inspectionandenforcementoflicencesandlotsmore.
YoucanalsofollowtheLinkedInGamblingCommissioncompanypage.
Keeping gambling fair and safe for allwww.gamblingcommission.gov.uk
