Review of Gambling Policy

Carmarthenshire County Council is undertaking a review of its Gambling Policy.

The policy sets out the principles applied when the council is exercising its functions under the Gambling Act 2005.

The current policy, which was adopted by the Authority in January 2010, must be reviewed at least every three years to ensure that it reflects feedback from the local community that the statutory objectives are being met.

Principal licensing officer Emyr Jones said: “As part of the review the council is consulting a number of interested parties including licence holders, businesses, local residents and their representatives.”

Licensing Authorities responsibilities under the Act include being responsible for the licensing of premises where gambling activities are to take place by issuing Premises Licences; regulating members’ clubs and miners’ welfare institutes who wish to undertake certain gaming activities via issuing Club Gaming Permits and/or Club Machine Permits; issuing Club Machine Permits to Commercial Clubs and receiving notifications from alcohol licensed premises (under the Licensing Act 2003) for the use of two or fewer gaming machines;

In exercising most of their functions under the Gambling Act 2005, licensing authorities must have regard to the licensing objectives as set out in section 1 of the Act. The licensing objectives are 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; and protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Further information regarding the Gambling Act as well as the Council’s current Gambling Policy can be viewed at: www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/english/environment/licensingandstreettrading/pages/gamblingact2003.aspx

If you would like any further information regarding the consultation or the Gambling Act please contact the licensing section on 01267 234567, Emyr Jones, Principal Licensing Officer, Public Protection, Social Care and Housing Department, Carmarthenshire County Council, 3 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LE ; fax 01267 229141, e–mail publicprotection@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Responses to the consultation must be submitted by the 12th October 2012, although an earlier response would be appreciated.