Introduction
The Gambling Act 2005 will begin to take effect from 1st January 2007 coming into full force on 1st September 2007. From this date onwards all Premises Licences will be granted by the Licensing Authority (Amber Valley Borough Council) rather than the Magistrates Courts. The Act will be regulated by the newly formed Gambling Commission, who are also responsible for issuing some licences
On 9 May 2007 the Council set the application fees for a premises licence.
On 1 September 2007 existing registrations that are current on that date will be converted automatically into a registration under the new act. A similar system of registration will operate under the new act. The first annual fee under the new act will become due on 1st January 2008.
From 1 September 2007 you will be required to abide by all the rules relating to small society lotteries in the new Gambling Act 2005. Details of these will be forwarded onto affected societies as they become available.
Gambling
The Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) replaces most of the existing law about gambling in Great Britain and puts in place an improved, more comprehensive structure of gambling regulation.
The Act introduces a unified regulator for gambling in Great Britain, the Gambling Commission, and a new licensing regime for commercial gambling (to be conducted by the Commission or by Licensing Authorities, depending on the matter to be licensed).
The Act removes from licensing justices all responsibility for granting gaming and betting permissions, which they exercised previously. Instead, the Gambling Commission and ourselves will share between us responsibility for all those matters previously regulated by the licensing justices.
Lotteries
The Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 provides that lotteries are illegal except for certain categories covered by the Act.
The only type of lottery with which the council is involved is the 'society lottery'. This is a raffle or lottery held by a local society to raise funds for charity, social or cultural activities or any other non-commercial purpose. The society must register with the council annually and must provide returns showing the amount raised by each lottery and the purposes for which the money is raised.
Please see link with Gambling Commission in relation to lotteries and Gambling Act 2005
