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Casino Premises Licence
In order to operate a casino in England and Wales, a Casino Operating Licence must first be obtained from the Gambling Commission. In addition the licensing authority may grant a Casinos Premises Licence to the operator.
The premises license will authorise the provision of either category A, B, C or D gaming machines, dependant on the size of the casino and the facilities available.
There will be three types of new casinos in addition to existing casinos operating prior to the implementation of the Act:
- A Regional Casino that will be entitled to provide up to 25 gaming machines (Category A, B, C or D) for each gaming table available for use. The Regional Casinos may have a maximum of 1,250 machines available for use.
- The eight Large Casinos will be entitled to provide up to 5 gaming machines (category B, C or D) for each gaming table available for use up to a maximum of 150 machines.
- The eight Small Casinos will be entitled to provide up to 2 gaming machines (Category B, C or D) for each gaming table available for use up to a maximum of 80 machines.
Gaming Machines
The Gambling Act 2005 reclassified gaming machines and places restrictions on the type and number of machines that may be made available according to the type of premises in which they are made availble for use. It also places a minimum age of 18 years on players of all but category D machines.
Generally gaming machines are classified according to the maximum stakes and maximum possible prizes.
| Category of Machine | Maximum Stake | Maximum Prize | Age |
| A | Unlimited | Unlimited | 18 |
| B1 | £2.00 | £4,000 | 18 |
| B2 | £100 | £500 | 18 |
| B3 | £1.00 | £500 | 18 |
| B4 | £1.00 | £250.00 | 18 |
| C | 50p | £25 | 18 |
| D |
10p or |
£5.00 £8.00 non-monetary prize |
18 |
Category A machines will only be available at a regional casino and will be the only gaming machines with unlimited stakes and prizes. A regional casino can make up to 1250 machines available irrespective of the number of gaming tables made available for use.
Category B machines are divided into four sub-categories (B1, B2, B3, and B4) according to stake and prizes.
Category B1 machines may only be made available in casinos and have a maximum stake of £2.00 and a maximum prize of £4,000.
Category B2 includes gaming machines known as fixed odds betting terminals where the stake and prizes from an individual game can be rolled over into the next game up to a maximum stake of £100 per game (or £15.00 per chip) and a maximum prize of £500.00. These machines will only be available in casinos and licensed betting offices. The licensed betting offices are restricted to making four machines available for use.
Category B3 machines may only be made available in casinos, bingo premises, betting premises and tracks with pool betting, and adult gaming centres. Bingo premises and adult gaming centres are limited to making four
Category B4 machines will be permitted to be available in casinos, bingo premises, adult gaming centres, members’ clubs, commercial clubs and miners welfare institutes. The maximum stake is £1.00 with a maximum prize of £250.
Category C machines may be made available in all premises other than an unlicensed family entertainment centre (with a licensing authority permit) or travelling fair. The maximum stake is £1 with a maximum prize of £35.
Category D machines may be made available in all of the locations where gaming machines of category A, B or C are available. In addition, they may be made available in unlicensed family entertainment centres and travelling fairs. The maximum stake is 10p (30p if stake is in money's worth (tokens etc.)) and the maximum prize is £5.00.
There is concern that these machines are attractive to young persons and as such they may not be made available in such places as taxi offices, fast food or late night refreshment outlets where the primary business operation is not gambling. Existing permits for these types of premises will be allowed to run their course but, nothwithstanding any expiry date shown on an existing gaming machine permit, no gaming machine may be made available for use in such outlets after the 31st August 2009.
No person under the age of 18 years shall have access to any gaming machine other than those in category D.
Specific Offences include:
- Permitting persons under 18 to gamble.
- Permitting persons under 18 to enter parts of a family entertainment centre where category C machines are available for use.
- Permitting persons under 18 to enter areas where category C machines are situated.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 14:47
