Gambling safeguarding guidance for premises

The Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 promotes safer practice at premises where gambling activities take place. Under this legislation, licensees and their operators have a legal responsibility to protect children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Children's Services, as a 'Responsible Authority', has a statutory responsibility to ensure that licence holders operate in a way that safeguards children.

Overall, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council wants to see that applicants have thought about the safety of children on their premises and have rules and systems in place to ensure that children are safe. Parents / carers may have primary responsibility for supervision, for instance, but the applicant still has responsibility to ensure the safety of children on the premises.

The following guidance is not exhaustive, but will hopefully help applicants understand what sort of information we think should be helpful to you when you are applying for a gambling licence or amendment to one.