How local gambling premises licensing works

The Gambling Commission licenses gambling businesses, but whether a betting shop, arcade, bingo hall or casino can open on a particular street is decided locally. This guide explains how premises licensing works under the Gambling Act 2005 in England, Wales and Scotland: who decides, what they can and cannot take into account, and how residents can comment on an application, ask for a review or appeal. For the national licensing system, see how UK gambling licensing works.

Two kinds of licence

Under section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005, only a business that holds, or has applied for, the relevant operating licence from the Gambling Commission can apply for a premises licence. The application goes to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are. Section 150 (opens in a new tab) lists five kinds of premises licence:

• casino premises licences;
• bingo premises licences;
• adult gaming centre premises licences (for category B gaming machines);
• family entertainment centre premises licences (for category C gaming machines);
• betting premises licences.

Pubs, clubs and unlicensed family entertainment centres work differently, through gaming machine permits, club permits and the rules for exempt gaming: see our guides to gaming machines and bingo and prize gaming. Short events away from licensed premises, such as a poker tournament in a hotel or betting at a sports ground, can instead use a notice to the licensing authority: see temporary and occasional use notices.

Who the licensing authority is

Section 2 of the Act (opens in a new tab) sets out the licensing authorities:

• England: district councils, county councils where there are no district councils, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
• Wales: county councils and county borough councils;
• Scotland: licensing boards.

The three licensing objectives

Every decision under the Act is tied to the licensing objectives (opens in a new tab) in section 1:

• 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;
• protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

“Aim to permit”: what councils can and cannot consider

Section 153 (opens in a new tab) says a licensing authority shall aim to permit the use of premises for gambling in so far as it thinks this is in line with the Commission’s codes of practice and guidance, reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives, and in line with the authority’s own statement of policy. The Commission’s guidance to licensing authorities (opens in a new tab) says this creates a presumption in favour of permitting gambling premises. Where an authority’s policy conflicts with the Commission’s codes or guidance, the codes and guidance take precedence.

Two things cannot be taken into account:

• Demand. Section 153 says an authority may not consider the expected demand for the gambling facilities.
• Planning and building law. Section 210 says the authority must not consider whether the proposal is likely to get planning or building permission. Planning is a separate process.

Authorities still have wide powers. The Commission says they can set a local policy, grant or refuse licences, attach conditions, and review licences, attaching conditions or revoking them as a result. It gives the example of conditions prompted by concerns about where the premises are, such as how close they are to a school.

Casinos are treated differently. Under section 166 (opens in a new tab), a licensing authority can pass a resolution not to issue any casino premises licences. Such a resolution lasts for up to three years and does not affect casino licences that already exist. For the July 2025 changes to machine numbers, betting and floor areas in casinos, see our gaming machines guide.

The local statement of policy

Under section 349 (opens in a new tab), every licensing authority must prepare and publish a statement of the principles it will apply, before each successive period of three years, and review it from time to time. Before doing so it must consult the police, representatives of local gambling businesses, and representatives of people likely to be affected. Your council’s or licensing board’s statement sets out what it expects of gambling premises in your area.

Gambling businesses must take those statements into account. Under the Commission’s code of practice on assessing local risk (opens in a new tab), casinos, adult gaming centres, bingo halls, family entertainment centres and betting shops must assess the local risks to the licensing objectives at each of their premises. They must take into account the matters in the licensing authority’s statement of policy, and have measures to reduce those risks. They must review the assessment when local circumstances or the premises change significantly, when they apply to vary a licence, and whenever they apply for a new premises licence.

Commenting on an application

Under section 161 (opens in a new tab), two groups can make written representations about an application for a premises licence, within a period set by regulations.

Interested parties. Section 158 (opens in a new tab) says you are an interested party if, in the licensing authority’s opinion, you:

• live close enough to the premises to be likely to be affected by the gambling;
• have business interests that might be affected; or
• represent people in either of those groups.

Responsible authorities. The Commission’s guidance lists them as the licensing authority itself, the Gambling Commission, the police, the fire and rescue authority, the planning authority, the environmental health or pollution authority, a body the licensing authority designates to advise on protecting children from harm, and HM Revenue and Customs. The Commission says responsible authorities do not have to respond to every application. It does not routinely comment on premises licence applications itself, and that should not be read as approval.

Decisions are made against the licensing objectives, the Commission’s codes and guidance and the authority’s own statement of policy, so it is worth reading that statement before you write. Contact your licensing authority to find out about current applications and the deadline for comments.

Asking for a review

Under section 197 (opens in a new tab), a responsible authority or an interested party can apply to the licensing authority for a review of an existing premises licence. The application must be in the prescribed form and must state the grounds. After a review, the authority can attach conditions to the licence or revoke it.

Appeals

Section 206 (opens in a new tab) says:

• if an application is refused, the applicant can appeal;
• if it is granted, the applicant or anyone who made representations can appeal;
• after a review, the licence holder, anyone who made representations, the person who asked for the review and the Gambling Commission can appeal.

Under section 207 (opens in a new tab), the appeal goes to the magistrates’ court for the area in England and Wales, or to the sheriff in Scotland. It must be started within 21 days of receiving notice of the decision. The court can dismiss the appeal, substitute its own decision, or send the case back to the licensing authority.

Gambling impact assessments: a change not yet in force

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (opens in a new tab), which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, contains a section that will amend the Gambling Act 2005. Section 87 extends to England and Wales. When it comes into force, it will let a licensing authority publish a gambling impact assessment. This is a statement, with the evidence for it, that granting further premises licences in a described part of its area is not likely to be reasonably consistent with one or more of the licensing objectives. That could be because of the cumulative impact of existing licences or for other reasons linked to those objectives and that area.

• It can cover bingo, adult gaming centre, family entertainment centre and betting premises licences, or only some of them. Casino premises licences are not included.
• It can be framed around a maximum number of licences.
• The authority must consult before publishing or revising one, review it from time to time, and include a summary in its statement of licensing policy. It may not take expected demand for gambling into account.
• If the policy also includes a presumption that applications within the assessment’s scope will be rejected, the authority may reject such an application on that ground alone. It cannot do so if the applicant asserts in the application, and then shows, that granting the licence would be reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives concerned.

The Act says section 87 comes into force on a day set by regulations. As of 12 November 2026, legislation.gov.uk shows it as not yet in force.

What local licensing does not cover

• Online gambling. Gambling websites and apps are licensed by the Gambling Commission, not by local licensing authorities. See how to check a gambling licence.
• Complaints about a bet or a payout. These go to the business first and then to its dispute resolution service. See how to complain.
• Northern Ireland. The Gambling Act 2005 premises system described here applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own law and licensing: see gambling law in Northern Ireland.

If you want to stop using local betting shops, arcades, bingo halls or casinos yourself, see land-based self-exclusion.