 |
Surrey
Heath Borough Council Surrey Police Woking Area
Primary Care Trust Surrey County
Council |
NEWS
RELEASE |
Residents
views requested on Casino Licence
Surrey Heath Borough Council is currently seeking the views of the residents
and businesses of Surrey Heath about the possibility of issuing Casino
licences to businesses in the Borough.
The Gambling Act 2005, which was passed earlier this year, introduces
how gambling is licensed in Great Britain, bringing with it new responsibilities
for Licensing Authorities.
The Gambling Commission
The Act creates a new unified regulator - the ‘Gambling Commission’,
which will take over the current responsibilities of the existing ‘Gaming
Board for Great Britain’.
In addition the Gambling Commission will issue personal and operating licences and ensure compliance with these and associated codes of practice. It will also investigate and prosecute illegal gambling providers and give guidance to Licensing Authorities on how they should, carry out their functions under the Act.
New Powers for Licensing Authorities
The Act also gives Licensing Authorities new powers to:
• issue premises licences for casinos
• resolve not to issue any further casino premises licences in their
area
Each Licensing Authority will need to produce a Statement of Licensing Policy which will last for up to three years before being reviewed.
The policy will set out how the Authority intends to exercise its functions under the Act and the principles it intends to apply.
Decisions by both the Gambling
Commission and the Licensing Authority will be made in accordance with
the following licensing objectives:
• Preventing gambling being a source of crime and disorder
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• Protecting children and the vulnerable from being harmed or exploited
by gambling
Casinos
The Act also creates three new categories of casino, and initially allows
premises licences to be issued for a total of 17 new casinos: 8 small
casinos, 8 large and 1 regional.
An independent panel will advise the Government where the new casinos should be located, based on the need to obtain a proper assessment of their social impact, and on the likely regeneration benefits. Once Parliament has confirmed the locations, operators will be able to apply to the relevant Licensing Authorities for the premises licenses.
Surrey Heath Borough Council is currently seeking the views of the residents and businesses of Surrey Heath:
1. Do you think it would be appropriate for the Council to make a bid to licence a casino in the Borough?
2. If yes, what do you consider would be the merits of doing so. If no, why not?
To voice an opinion please complete the consultation online by visiting www.surreyheath.gov.uk – Click the appropriate link on the home page. Alternatively send comments along with your name and address to: Communications, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Heath House, Knoll Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3HD.
The closing date for this consultation is Friday 25th November 2005.
For further information about
the Gambling Act 2005, its implementation, and the roles and responsibilities
of Licensing Authorities, please visit the Department of Culture, Media
and Sport (DCMS) web site www.culture.gov.uk – Look under ‘Gambling
& Racing’. Alternatively please visit the Surrey Heath web site
www.surreyheath.gov.uk – Look under ‘Council’, ‘Licensing’
and then ‘The Gambling Act 2005’.
For further information or photographs contact:
Amanda Gow, Press & Communications Officer 01276 707312
Jenni Wheller, Communications Assistant 01276 707415
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