South Tyneside Council has launched a consultation to find out more about local people’s opinions on a new gambling policy on public health that is expected to be rolled out across the borough.
For the time being, it is the South Tyneside Council which is responsible for issuing operating licenses for all premises used for offering gambling services, including racing tracks, bingo halls, as well as clubs and pubs offering gaming machines. In addition, under the Gambling Act of 2005, local councils must take care of a number of objectives, including tackling gambling-related crime, disorder, or any harm inflicted on local residents in order to make sure that gambling is fair and transparent, and minors and more vulnerable individuals are well protected from possible harm.
Now, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee of the South Tyneside Council has started a 10-week consultation on a new policy which is set to be followed in the period from 2019 to 2022, as the current policy is due to expire on January 30th, 2019. The closing date of the consultation is set on September 30th, with the final approval of the Council expected to be given in January 2019.
As mentioned above, the policy is to be primarily focused on public health mainly in terms of the licensed gambling premises on the territory of the borough, as it is set to protect children and more vulnerable individuals from possible gambling-related harm and also to maintain distinctions between the different types of gambling providers. The new policy is also expected to provide professional advice to operators or premises owners who apply for a gambling operating license in regards to the recently-issued Government review of controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) which maximum stake is to be reduced from £100 to £2.
Types of Licenses Included in the Council’s Consultation
South Tyneside Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee revealed that the consultation released would engage not only local residents, but also businesses which operate in the region, as well as Members of Parliament, councillors and various organisations.
Currently, gambling permissions can be issued in the form of a license, registration, permit or exemption depending upon the type of gambling addressed, the means by which gambling is conducted or the persons to whom/by whom it is made available. Three license categories are available under the Act, including an operating license, a premises license and a personal license.
As mentioned above, three major licensing objectives have been recognised by the local Authority in the consultation papers. The Council noted that these objectives differ from the ones described in the Licensing Act of 2003, which do not include considerations in terms of public safety, and prevention of anti-social behaviour and gambling-related harm.
The South Tyneside Council also included the types of gambling premise licenses for consideration in its 10-week consultation draft, with a casino, bingo, betting premises, racetracks, adult gaming centres, licensed family entertainment centres, and travelling fairs being included in the list.
- Author
Daniel Williams
