Gambling Policy Review 2015

Overview

Hackney Council is the Licensing Authority under the Gambling Act 2005.  This gives the Council responsibility for issuing gambling premises licences and a range of permits to local authorities. Since 2007 the Council’s Licensing Committee has been responsible for granting premises licences for:

• Bingo premises
• Betting premises, including tracks (for e.g. horse or dog racing)
• Amusement arcades

As well as issuing a range of permits and notices for gambling activities.

The Act makes clear that when Licensing Authorities are carrying out their duties to licence premises and issue permits that they have to bear the following licensing objectives in mind:

• To prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
• To ensure that gambling is carried out in a fair and open way;
• To protect children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

About Hackney’s draft revised gambling policy

In January 2007, the Council produced and published its gambling policy setting out the principles it would apply in deciding whether to grant or refuse applications. The gambling policy is based on the licensing objectives and guidance from the Gambling Commission, an independent co–regulator of gambling operators. The gambling policy sets out how we have built on these core objectives, developing an approach to licensing premises for gambling that reflect local circumstances in the Borough.

The Council is required to review the policy at least once every three years and to consult upon the draft Policy prior to adoption.  

Making sure the draft revised Policy is relevant to our local circumstances

In drafting this Policy we have been mindful of the demographics of our borough and how that links to the licensing objectives set out in the Gambling Act 2005.

There are currently 62 licensed gambling premises in the borough: 58 betting shops; 1 bingo hall and 3 adult gaming centres.

At present there are no casinos in Hackney and the Council has previously passed a ‘no casino’ resolution to and will consider this step again in the future.

We welcome this opportunity to receive your views on this Policy and your feedback on the impact our policy is having on managing gambling activity for the benefit of the economy and the community in Hackney.

Why your views matter

We welcome this opportunity to receive your views on this Policy and your feedback on the impact our policy is having on managing gambling activity for the benefit of the economy and the community in Hackney.

Who we want to hear from you

This consultation is open to residents and businesses, and the Licensing Authority would encourage feedback from those with experience of gambling such as the gambling industry in particular.

Please view the policy documents below.

What happens next

Once we have had your feedback we will use this to revise the draft and ask the Council to adopt the Policy formally.

For more information on the Policy please call the Licensing Team on 020 8356 4942. 

You can also write to us with your views at the following address:

FREEPOST HACKNEY LICENSING SERVICE