Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Gambling Act 2005

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Please note:

All reference to 'Parts' and 'sections' are from the Gambling Act 2005. For other versions of these Explanatory Notes, see More Resources.

  1. Introduction

  2. Background

  3. Summary of the Act

  4. Structure of the Act

  5. Territorial Extent

    1. Territorial application: Wales

    2. Territorial application: Scotland

    3. Territorial limits – vessels and aircraft

      1. Part 1: Interpretation of Key Concepts

        1. Section 1: The licensing objectives

        2. Section 2: Licensing authorities

        3. Section 3: Gambling

        4. Section 4: Remote gambling

        5. Section 5: Facilities for gambling

        6. Section 6: Gaming and game of chance

        7. Section 7: Casino

        8. Section 8: Equal chance gaming

        9. Section 9: Betting: general

        10. Section 10: Spread bets &c.

        11. Section 11: Betting: prize competitions

        12. Section 12: Pool betting

        13. Section 13: Betting intermediary

        14. Section 14: Lottery

        15. Section 15: National Lottery

        16. Section 16: Betting and gaming

        17. Section 17: Lotteries and gaming

        18. Section 18: Lotteries and betting

        19. Section 19: Non-commercial society

      2. Schedule 1: Betting: prize competitions: definition of payment to enter

      3. Schedule 2: Lotteries: definition of payment to enter

      4. Schedule 3: Amendment of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c.39)

        1. Part 2: the Gambling Commission

          1. Section 20: Establishment of the Commission

          2. Section 21: Gaming Board: transfer to Commission

          3. Section 22: Duty to promote the licensing objectives

          4. Section 23: Policy for licensing and regulation

          5. Section 24: Codes of practice

          6. Section 25: Guidance to local authorities

          7. Section 26: Duty to advise the Secretary of State

          8. Section 27: Compliance

          9. Section 28: Investigation and prosecution of offences

          10. Section 29: Licensing authority information

          11. Section 30: Other exchange of information

          12. Section 31: Consultation with the National Lottery Commission

          13. Section 32: Consultation with Commissioners of Customs and Excise

      5. Schedule 4: The Gambling Commission

      6. Schedule 5: Transfer from Gaming Board to Gambling Commission: supplementary provision

      7. Schedule 6: Exchange of information: persons and bodies

        1. Part 3: General Offences

          1. Sections 33 to 35: Provision of facilities for gambling

          2. Section 36: Territorial application

          3. Sections 37 & 38: Use of premises

          4. Section 39: Exception: occasional use notice

          5. Section 40: Exception: football pools

          6. Section 41: Gambling software

          7. Section 42: Cheating

          8. Section 43: Chain-gift schemes

          9. Section 44: Provision of unlawful facilities abroad

        2. Part Four: Protection of Children and Young Persons

          1. Section 45: Meaning of child and young person

          2. Sections 46 & 48: Inviting children and young persons to gamble; participation by young persons in gambling

          3. Sections 47 & 49: Invitation to enter premises; young persons entering premises

          4. Section 50: Provision of facilities for gambling

          5. Sections 51 to 55: Employment offences

          6. Section 56: Invitation to participate in lottery

          7. Section 57: Invitation to participate in football pools

          8. Section 58: Return of stake

          9. Section 59: Age limit for category D machines

          10. Section 60: Temporary use notice

          11. Section 61: Meaning of employment

          12. Section 62: Penalty

          13. Section 63: Reasonable belief about a person’s age

          14. Section 64: Use of children in enforcement operations

        3. Part 5: Operating Licences

          1. Section 65: Nature of licence

          2. Section 66: Form of licence

          3. Section 67: Remote gambling

          4. Section 68: Combined licence

          5. Section 69: Application

          6. Section 70: Consideration of applications: general principles

          7. Section 71: Consideration of application: criminal record

          8. Section 72: Consideration of application: demand

          9. Section 73: Procedure

          10. Section 74: Determination of application

          11. Sections 75 to 78: Licence Conditions

          12. Section 79: Scope of powers to attach conditions

          13. Section 80: Requirement for personal licence

          14. Section 81: Credit and inducements

          15. Section 82: Compliance with code of practice

          16. Section 83: Return of stakes to children

          17. Section 84: Premises

          18. Section 85: Equipment

          19. Section 86: Gaming machines

          20. Section 87: Membership

          21. Section 88: Information

          22. Section 89: Remote operating licence

          23. Section 90: Casino operating licence

          24. Section 91: Bingo operating licence

          25. Section 92: General betting operating licence

          26. Section 93: Pool betting operating licence

          27. Section 94: Horse-race pool betting operating licence

          28. Section 95: Betting on the National Lottery

          29. Section 96: Gaming machine technical operating licence

          30. Section 97: Gambling software: operating licence: standards

          31. Section 98: Lottery operating licences

          32. Section 99: Mandatory conditions of lottery operating licence

          33. Section 100: Annual fee

          34. Section 101: Change of circumstance

          35. Sections 102 & 103: Change of corporate control

          36. Section 104: Application to vary licence

          37. Section 105: Amendment

          38. Section 106: Register of operating licences

          39. Sections 107 & 108: Copy of licence and production of licence

          40. Section 109: Conviction

          41. Sections 110 & 111: Duration

          42. Section 112: Renewal of licence

          43. Sections 113 & 114: Surrender and Lapse

          44. Section 115: Forfeiture

          45. Section 116: Review

          46. Sections 117 to 121: Regulatory powers

          47. Section 122: Information

          48. Section 123: Levy

          49. Section 125: Relevant offence: disapplication of rehabilitation

          50. Section 126: Interpretation

      8. Schedule 7: Relevant offences

        1. Part 6 – Personal Licences

          1. Section 127: Nature of personal licence

          2. Section 128: Application of provisions of Part 5

          3. Section 129: Exemption for small scale operators

          4. Section 130: Application

          5. Sections 131 & 135: Duration and Review

          6. Section 132: Fees

          7. Section 133: Multiple licences

          8. Section 134: Production of licence

          9. Section 136: Disqualification

          10. Sections 137 & 138: Notification requirements

          11. Section 139: Breach of personal licence condition

        2. Part 7: Operating and Personal Licences: Appeals

          1. Section 140: The Gambling Appeals Tribunal

          2. Section 141: Appeal to Tribunal

          3. Section 142: Timing

          4. Section 143: Appeal from Tribunal

          5. Section 144: Powers of Tribunal

          6. Section 145: Stay pending appeal

          7. Section 146: Rules

          8. Section 147: Fees

          9. Section 148: Legal Assistance

          10. Section 149: Enforcement of Costs Orders

      9. Schedule 8: Gambling Appeals Tribunal

        1. Paragraphs 1 and 2: President, deputy and members

        2. Paragraph 3: Tenure

        3. Paragraph 4: Staff

        4. Paragraphs 5 to 8: Money

        5. Paragraph 9 to 11: Sittings

        6. Paragraphs 12 to 14: Procedure

        7. Paragraph 15: Council on Tribunals

        8. Paragraph 16: Disqualification

        9. Part 8: Premises Licences

          1. Section 150: Nature of licence

          2. Section 151: Form of licence

          3. Section 152:  Combined licence

          4. Section 153: Principles to be applied

          5. Section 154: Delegation to licensing committee

          6. Section 155: Delegation of functions under Part 8: Scotland

          7. Section 156: Register

          8. Section 157: Responsible authorities

          9. Section 158: Interested party

          10. Sections 159 to 161: Applications

          11. Sections 162 to 165: Determination of application

          12. Section 166: Resolution not to issue casino licence

          13. Sections 167 to 171: Conditions

          14. Section 172: Gaming machines

          15. Section 173: Virtual gaming

          16. Section 174: Casino premises licence

          17. Section 175: Casino premises licence: overall limits

      10. Schedule 9: Applications for casino premises licences

        1. Section 176: Casino premises licence: access by children

        2. Section 177: Credit

        3. Section 178: Door supervision

        4. Section 179: Pool betting on track

        5. Section 180: Pool betting on dog races

        6. Section 181: Betting machines

        7. Section 182: Exclusion of children from track areas

        8. Section 183: Christmas Day

        9. Section 184: Annual fee

        10. Section 185: Availability of licence

        11. Section 186: Change of circumstance

        12. Section 187: Application to vary licence

        13. Sections 188 & 189: Transfer

        14. Section 190: Copy of licence

        15. Section 191: Initial duration

        16. Section 192: Surrender

        17. Section 193: Revocation for failure to pay fee

        18. Section 194: Lapse

        19. Sections 195 & 196: Reinstatement

        20. Section 197: Application for review

        21. Sections 198 & 199: Consideration of application

        22. Section 200: Initiation of review by licensing authority

        23. Sections 201 to 203: Review

        24. Sections 204 & 205: Provisional statement

        25. Sections 206 to 209: Rights of Appeal

        26. Section 210: Planning permission

        27. Section 211: Vessels and vehicles

        28. Section 212: Fees

        29. Part 9: Temporary Use of Premises

          1. Sections 214 to 218: Temporary use notice

          2. Sections 219 & 220: Giving notice: procedure

          3. Sections 221 to 223: Objections and modification by agreement

          4. Sections 224 to 226: Counter-notices and dismissal of objections

          5. Section 227: Endorsement of notice

          6. Section 228: Consideration by licensing authority: timing

          7. Sections 229 & 230: Miscellaneous provisions

          8. Section 231: Vehicles and vessels

          9. Section 232: Delegation of licensing authority functions: England and Wales

          10. Section 233: Delegation of licensing authority functions: Scotland

          11. Section 234: Register

        30. Part 10: Gaming Machines

          1. Section 235: Gaming machine

          2. Section 236: Gaming machines: Categories A to D

          3. Sections 237 to 239: Other definitions

          4. Sections 240 & 241: Use and supply of machines

          5. Section 242: Making machine available for use

          6. Section 243: Manufacture, supply etc.

          7. Section 244: Linked machines

          8. Section 245: Credit

          9. Section 247: Family entertainment centre permits

      11. Schedule 10: Family Entertainment Centre gaming machine permits

        1. Sections 248 & 249: No and limited prizes

        2. Section 250: Single-machine supply and maintenance permits

        3. Part 11: Lotteries

          1. Section 252: Promoting a lottery

          2. Section 253: Lottery ticket

          3. Sections 254 to 256: Key terms

          4. Section 257: External lottery manager

          5. Section 258: Promotion of lottery

          6. Section 259: Facilitating a lottery

          7. Section 260: Misusing profits of lottery

          8. Section 261: Misusing profits of an exempt lottery

          9. Section 262: Small society lottery: breach of condition

          10. Section 263: Penalty

          11. Section 264: Exclusion of the National Lottery

          12. Section 265: Territorial Application

      12. Schedule 11: Exempt lotteries

        1. Part 1: Incidental non-commercial lotteries

        2. Part 2: Private Lotteries

        3. Part 3: Customer lottery

        4. Parts 4 and 5: Small society lotteries

        5. Part 6: Powers to impose additional restrictions

        6. Part 7: General

        7. Part 12: Clubs, Pubs, Fairs, &C.

          1. Sections 266 to 268: Definitions of eligible clubs

          2. Sections 269 & 270: Exempt gaming

          3. Sections 271 & 272: Club gaming permit

          4. Section 273: Club machine permit

          5. Section 274: Procedure

      13. Schedule 12: Club gaming permits and club machine permits

        1. Sections 275 & 281: Bingo in clubs and alcohol licensed premises

        2. Sections 277 & 278: Alcohol licensed premises

        3. Sections 279 & 280: Exempt gaming

        4. Section 282: Gaming machines: automatic entitlement

        5. Section 283: Licensed premises gaming machine permits

      14. Schedule 13: Licensed premises gaming machine permits

        1. Section 284: Removal of exemption

        2. Section 285: Permits for clubs, pubs etc.: special provision for Scotland

        3. Sections 286 & 287: Travelling fairs

        4. Part 13: Prize Gaming

          1. Section 288: Meaning of “prize gaming”

          2. Section 289: Prize gaming permits and Schedule 14

          3. Sections 290 & 292: Prize gaming in gaming and entertainment centres and fairs

          4. Section 291: Bingo halls

          5. Section 293: Conditions for prize gaming

          6. Section 294: Power to restrict exemptions

        5. Part 14: Private and Non-Commercial Gaming and Betting

          1. Sections 295 & 296: Private betting and gaming

      15. Schedule 15: Private gaming and betting

        1. Part 1: Gaming

        2. Part 2: Betting

          1. Sections 297 to 301: Non-commercial gaming

          2. Section 302: Non-commercial betting

        3. Part 15: Inspection

          1. Section 303: Enforcement officers

          2. Section 304: Authorised persons

          3. Section 305: Compliance

          4. Section 306: Suspected offence

          5. Section 307: Inspection of gambling

          6. Section 308: Operating licence holders

          7. Section 309: Family entertainment centres

          8. Section 310: Premises licensed for alcohol

          9. Section 311: Prize gaming permit

          10. Section 312: Clubs

          11. Section 313: Licensed premises

          12. Section 314: Lotteries: registered societies

          13. Section 315: Temporary use notice

          14. Section 316: Authorisations: production on demand

          15. Section 317: Powers

          16. Section 318: Dwellings

          17. Section 319: Records

          18. Section 320: Timing

          19. Section 321: Evidence of authorisation

          20. Section 322: Information

          21. Section 323: Use of force

          22. Section 324: Person accompanying inspector, &c.

          23. Section 325: Securing premises after entry

          24. Section 326: Obstruction

        4. Part 16: Advertising

          1. Section 327: Meaning of “advertising”

          2. Section 328: Regulations

          3. Section 329: Broadcasting

          4. Section 330: Unlawful gambling

          5. Section 331: Foreign gambling

          6. Section 332: Territorial application: non-remote advertising

          7. Section 333: Territorial application: remote advertising

        5. Part 17: Legality and Enforcement of Gambling Contracts

          1. Section 334: Repeal of provisions preventing enforcement

          2. Section 335: Enforceability of gambling contracts

          3. Section 336: Power of Gambling Commission to void bet

          4. Section 337: Supplementary

          5. Section 338: Interim Moratorium

        6. Part 18: Miscellaneous and General

          1. Section 339: Prize competitions

          2. Section 340: Foreign Betting

          3. Section 341: Offence committed by body

          4. Section 342: False information

          5. Section 343: Value of Prize

          6. Section 344: Participation Fees

          7. Section 345: Forfeiture

          8. Section 346: Prosecution by licensing authority

          9. Section 347: Prosecution: time limit

          10. Section 348: Excluded premises

          11. Section 349: Three-year licensing policy

          12. Section 350: Exchange of information

          13. Section 351: Power to amend Schedule 6

          14. Section 352: Data protection

          15. Section 353: Interpretation

          16. Section 354: Crown application

          17. Section 355: Regulations, orders and rules

          18. Section 356: Amendments and repeals

          19. Section 357: Money

          20. Section 358: Commencement and Schedule 18

          21. Sections 359 & 360: Vessels and Aircraft: Territorial limitation

          22. Section 361: Extent

  6. Commencement

  7. Details of the Bill’s Passage through Parliament

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources