Wandsworth Gambling Policy Review 2024

Closed 7 Oct 2024

Opened 23 Jul 2024

Contact

Any queries please contact:

licensing@merton.gov.uk

Overview

The London Borough of Wandsworth is calling on local residents, businesses, interest groups, faith groups and public agencies to have their say on the borough’s future gambling policy.

The Gambling Act 2005 requires all licensing authorities to prepare and publish a Gambling Act Statement of Policy and Principles every three years. A review of the current policy, which is due to expire in January 2025, is now underway.

Please click here to view the Draft Gambling Act Statement of Policy and Principles. The changes we are proposing are clearly indicated in the document.

The closing date for submitting consultation responses is 7th October 2024.

Background to the Gambling Policy

The Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) gives licensing authorities various regulatory functions in relation to gambling. The main functions of licensing authorities include:

  • issuing premises licences (in respect of casinos, bingo premises, betting shops, tracks, adult gaming centres, family entertainment centres)
  • considering notices given for the temporary use of premises for gambling
  • granting permits for gaming and gaming machines in clubs and in alcohol licensed premises
  • granting permits to family entertainment centres for the use of certain lower stake gaming machines
  • registration of small scale society lotteries

It should be noted that Local Authorities do not regulate on-line gambling.

The Gambling Act is based on three overriding objectives -

  • 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.

The Draft Gambling Act Statement of Policy and Principles explains this Authority’s position in respect of the objectives and informs the decision making on whether to grant an application, whether to add any, and if so, what conditions and whether to accept an application for the review of a licence or seek a review in its own right.

Licensing policies must be prepared in accordance with the Act. Guidance issued by the Gambling Commission prescribes the information that must be included in the policy, but the policy must also reflect local circumstances hence the importance of local consultation.

Proposed Gambling Policy 2025 – 2028

We are not proposing to make any substantial alterations to the Policy Statement as it has generally worked well in guiding both applicants and the Licensing Authority on the principles to be applied when determining applications under the Act. However, it is proposed to introduce some new additions to the Policy as follows:

Proposed additions to the Gambling Policy

  1. Glossary of terms used within the Policy document is added just after the contents page.
  2. Executive Summary added to the policy document.
  3. New paragraphs 3.5 – 3.7 added, which sets out the Council’s Objectives when discharging its duties under the Act.
  4. It is proposed to add a new Section 4. This shows how the proposed Statement of Policy and Principles contributes to the London Borough of Wandsworth overall vision of “Building a fairer, compassionate and more sustainable borough” as set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2022-26.
  5. Paragraph 5.2 expands on the list of gambling-related activities and licences that are outside the control of Local Licensing Authorities.
  6. Section 12 further guidance on how the Licensing Authority will seek to avoid duplication with other regulatory regimes when discharging its function under the  Act.
  7. Section 13 provides general principles the Licensing Authority will apply when determining applications.
  8. Section 14 has been added to provide more details on gambling prevalence and social responsibility. This section lists key areas that operators of gambling premises must focus on to promote socially responsible gambling, and these should also reduce the risk of, and seek to identify, problem gambling.
  9. Section 20 provides further guidance on how the Licensing Authority investigates complaints against licensed premises.
  10. Appendix C – Risk Assessment Guidance, provides more guidance for Adult Gaming Centre, (Licensed) Family Entertainment Centres, Bingo premises and Betting Shops.
  11. A new Appendix F is added, which sets out expectations from gambling operators around customer interactions and record keeping. This section also signposts to a number of support agencies who are able to help with gambling addiction and wider, related issues such as other addictions, debt and homelessness.

No casino policy

We are also seeking your views on whether we should continue the Council’s ‘no casino’ policy.  In 2007, we concluded that a casino would not be appropriate given that this Borough is predominantly residential in nature and a casino would be out of character to the area. A casino in one town centre would give rise to an imbalance in competing town centre economies whilst a location outside of the town centres would be detrimental to all five town centres. Whilst there is extensive development taking place this will not alter the general character of the Borough and consequently it is proposed to reconfirm the ‘no casino’ policy.

How to respond

We would welcome your views on the above issues and to hear about any other changes you would wish to see in the policy and your reasons for them.

Please give us your views using the online survey below, but if you would like a paper copy, please contact us at licensing@merton.gov.uk 

Alternatively you can email licensing@merton.gov.uk or send written responses to:

Licensing Section (LB Wandsworth), Regulatory Services Partnership, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Surrey SM4 5DX

Telephone:  020 8545 3969

Any comments you send should clearly state your name, any organisation or persons you may be responding on behalf of and your address. Please state that your comments relate to L.B. Wandsworth Gambling Policy Statement

The consultation runs until the 7th October 2024.

Next steps

We will then consider all the responses and amend the proposed policy as appropriate. The updated policy will then be considered by the Licensing Committee in October 2024 and by full Council after that date.

It should be noted that the Gambling Commission Guidance advises that demand for gambling premises and morality issues are not considerations under this legislation. Therefore the authority will not be in a position to consider any comments of this nature.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Open to all

Interests

  • Wandsworth Borough