About the Gambling Act 2005
The Gambling Act 2005 (the Act), which came into force on 1 September 2007, replaced most of the existing laws about gambling in Great Britain and aimed to put in place an improved, more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation. Its three 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.
The Gambling Commission was established as the new, independent national regulator for commercial gambling and it has a key role to play in implementation of the Act. Not only has it issued guidance for local authorities, but it also issues licences such as operating and personal licences.
Local licensing authorities issue premises licences for bingo, betting, adult gaming centres, family entertainment centres, casinos and horse racing and dog tracks as well as issue permits for prize gaming, gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises, members clubs and unlicensed family entertainment centres. Local authorities are also responsible for the registration of small society lotteries and process occasional and temporary use notices and provisional statements.
Licensing policy
Licensing authorities are required to prepare and publish a statement of policy every 3 years in relation to the exercise of their functions under the Act. Our first policy was prepared by co-operation with officers in each of the other Councils in Cumbria and was approved by the Council at its meeting on 14 December 2006. The policy was reviewed in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018. Consultation on a revised policy took place between 4 August 2021 and 6 October 2021. The revised policy was approved by the Council at its meeting on 25 November 2021 and has effect for 3 years from 31 January 2022.
Read Notice of Publication of the Policy (PDF: 190Kb / 1 page).
Read Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Policy (PDF: 491Kb / 44 pages).
Statement of gambling policy 2024 to 2027
The Gambling Act 2005 requires that the Council, acting as the Licensing Authority to prepare, consult on and publish a Statement of Gambling Policy every three years, setting out how the Authority will manage the licensing of local gambling premises.
This is Westmorland and Furness Council’s first Statement of Gambling Policy which was appoved by Council on 22 February 2024, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.
A copy of the policy can be downloaded here: Statement of Gambling Policy 2024 - 2027 (PDF: 1Mb / 77 pages).
Application forms and fees
Application forms can be downloaded in Word and PDF format.
Licensing register
The Council is required by law to maintain a register containing details of various licences issued. This register can be viewed online or can be viewed at the Town Hall, Penrith during normal office hours.
View the online Licensing Register.
If you notice any apparent error or omission in the register, or if you have any query about it, please contact a member of the Licensing Team.