Overview

You need a premises licence to run a premises-based gambling business, like a betting shop, bingo hall or arcade.

You need to apply for an operating licence from the Gambling Commission before you can apply for a premises licence.

To apply for a premises licence you must:

be 18 or over
have the right to occupy the premises
have an operators licence issued by the Gambling Commission

Premises will only be granted one licence for a single activity, with the exception of race tracks.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, you can apply for a gambling premises licence to cover the following business:

Adult Gaming Centre (AGC)

An adult gaming centre premises licence will allow the operator to make use of up to four category B3 and B4 gaming machines (or 20% of the total number of gaming machines, whichever is the greater) and an unlimited number of category C and D machines.

For more information on the definitions and maximum stakes and prizes of each category, please visit the Gambling Commission website.

Betting Office (track and other)

A betting office premises licence will allow the operator to make use of up to four category B2, B3, B4 C and D gaming machines as well as betting and virtual games.

For further information, please visit the Gambling Commission website.

In the case of race tracks, if the occupier of the premises licence does not offer the gambling, an operators licence from the Gambling Commission may not be required – if you are unsure please contact the Gambling Commission.

Bingo Hall

A bingo premises licence will allow the operator to make use of up to four category B3 and B4 gaming machines (or 20% of the total number of gaming machines, whichever is the greater) and an unlimited number of category C and D machines, as well as Bingo.

For more information on the definitions and maximum stakes and prizes of each category, please visit the Gambling Commission website.

Family Entertainment Centre (FEC)

A family entertainment centre (FEC) premises licence will allow the operator to make use of category C gaming machines.

These machines, however, must be in a segregated part of the premises that is supervised to prevent children and young people from accessing these machines. A FEC will also allow for unlimited use of category D gaming machines.

We expect the applicant to show that there are policies and procedures in place to protect children from harm. The efficiency of such policies and procedures will each be considered on their merits; however, they may include:

dealing with suspected truant children on the premises
dealing with unsupervised young children on the premises
dealing with children causing perceived problems on or around the premises

Applicants should also provide evidence that there is a full evidence of the maximum stakes and prizes of the gambling that is permissible in unlicensed FECs.

Casinos

Please contact us if you would like to open a casino.

Before you apply

Before applying for a gambling premises licence an operating licence from the Gambling Commission will be required.

Alongside your application you will also be required to submit a plan that shows:

the extent of the boundary or perimeter of the premises
the location of any external or internal walls if the premise includes or consists of one or more buildings
the location of any external or internal walls of the building which are included in the premises if the premise forms part of a building
the location of any part of the sides of the vessel and of any internal walls of the vessel which are included in the premises, if the premise is a vessel or part of a vessel
the location of each point of entry to and exit from the premises, including, a description in each case of the place from which entry is made or to which the exit leads

You will also be required to submit the appropriate fee for the application.

Fees

Fees for gambling premises licences are:

Type of premises	New	Annual fee	Transfer	Vary	Change of details	Copy licence	Reinstatement	Provisional Statement	Application fee for Provisional Licence Holder
Betting shop	£1840	£400	£850	£970	£50	£25	£1,140	£1,900	£660
Bingo hall	£2140	£660	£850	£1,100	£50	£25	£1,140	£2,140	£790
Adult gaming centre	£1900	£670	£850	£970	£50	£25	£1,140	£1,340	£790
Family entertainment centre	£1900	£660	£850	£970	£50	£25	£1,130	£1,310	£620
Track	£1469.08	£660	£660	£850	£50	£25	£910	£1,550	£620

How to apply

Follow these steps to apply for your gambling premises licence.

Download this form
Complete the form
Send your form to us by email or post
Once we have received your form we will contact you with payment instructions

After you apply

Email applications

If you have emailed your form to us we will notify the relevant authorities on your behalf.

Postal applications

If you have mailed your completed form to us you must also notify the following:

Gambling Commission: Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP
HM Revenue & Customs: HM Customs and Revenue National Registration Unit, Portcullis House, 21 India Street, Glasgow, G2 4PZ
your local Police Licensing Team: Police Licensing Team, Dorset Police, 5 Madeira Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 1QQ
your local Fire and Rescue Service: Dorset Fire & Rescue Service, Five Rivers Community Health & Wellbeing Centre, Hulse Road, Salisbury SP1 3NR
your local environmental health department: Dorset Council, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ
your local planning authority: Dorset Council, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ
your local licensing authority child protection service: Head of Children’s Services, Social Care & Health, Dorset County, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ

You must do this within 7 days of applying.

Displaying your application notice

You must display your ‘application notice’ at or on the premises for 28 days, this must start the day after you submit your application to us. View the advertising requirements.

Once you have completed your application you will be prompted to make an online payment. We cannot process your application until payment has been received.

After you apply there is a 28 day consultation period, this means responsible authorities and any other person can make representations about a new premises licence application. If no representations are received, the application is granted with the relevant mandatory conditions and any conditions consistent with your operating schedule.

If representations are received, the application process can take longer as a licensing sub-committee might need to be arranged to to hear the application.

Making changes to your licence

If you need to change the licence holders name or address on your licence you can do this by completing a change of name or address form.

Change of name or address forms for:

Transfers

If the business is sold to another person or company the new operator will need to complete a transfer form, and the existing operator will need to give consent to transfer the business and this needs to be included with the transfer application.

Transfer the licence for:

Variations

Premises licences can be varied to:

add, amend or remove an authorised activity
amend another detail on the licence
excluding a Mandatory Licence Condition
add, amend or remove another condition on the licence

Submit a variation for:

Gambling premises licence