Gambling

Sectors we serve

How we can help

Our specialist gambling team provides expert legal services to all sectors of the gambling and leisure industry

 

Our specialism

Our specialist gambling team provides expert legal services to all sectors of the gambling and leisure industry.

Our licensing solicitors have in-depth knowledge and experience providing bespoke advice and assistance to a variety of businesses ranging from single premise owners to international corporations who provide both land based and online gambling services.

Having worked with the gambling and gaming industry since the inception of the Gambling Act 2005 our experts are perfectly placed to provide practical advice for your business needs and we have assisted governmental organisations, trade associations, casinos, bookmakers, online gambling operators, charities, event venues, manufacturers and suppliers of gambling equipment, software developers, Holiday Parks and other national leisure and retail operators including hotels, restaurants and bars.

Our combined experience across the licensed leisure industry enables us to offer a comprehensive service addressing all your licensing and regulatory compliance needs.

We provide advice and assistance for:

  • All types of Operating Licence applications including changes of corporate control following corporate restructure or merger and acquisition;
  • Operators venturing into the gambling industry for the first time with new concepts;
  • Applications for new premises licences, variations, transfers and reinstatement of lapsed licences;
  • Advertising requirements and marketing campaigns;
  • New games and their technical requirements;
  • Due diligence investigations on potential acquisition premises;
  • Preparation of business plans; and
  • Ongoing compliance

Gaming machines

Under the Gambling Act 2005, gaming machines fall into a number of categories depending on the limits on the stakes and prizes.

Businesses which manufacture, supply, install, adapt, maintain or repair gaming machines must apply for a gaming machine technical operating licence.

Arcades

Gaming machine arcades are regulated according to the Gambling Act 2005. Under the Act there are three types of arcades.

 

Bingo balls in relation to article of bingo in pubs

Non-remote sector/Land based operations

Terrestrial operators include providers of gaming machine arcades, bingo premises, betting shops, casinos and racecourses and we advise our clients on all aspects of the licensing regime.

Remote sector/online gaming

We have extensive experience advising clients regarding the remote sector including software developers and online providers of gambling services.

We act for a number of multinational companies who provide their services across jurisdictions including Great Britain, Alderney, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man.

White paper released. Licensing experts Poppleston Allen share

Technical Licences

Manufacturers, developers and suppliers of gambling equipment and gambling software are subject to licensing requirements under the Gambling Act 2005 if their business or customers are based in Great Britain. Licensed Business to Consumer operators are legally required to source their software and gambling equipment from Gambling Commission licensees and we work with some of the largest gaming machine and software developers and suppliers in Europe with their licensing needs. Whatever the scale of operation, whether an experienced operator or a new start up with a novel game concept, our team can help you navigate the regulatory framework.

Lotteries

Lottery licensing can be complex and we advise all operators to ensure that lottery structures are appropriately managed.

Lotteries are primarily the preserve of good causes and come in all shapes and sizes. We act for a number of companies to help them provide their customers with the best lottery experience.


Gambling

Regulatory Compliance

The Gambling Act 2005 and supporting legislation provides a complex system of regulatory requirements and our Solicitors can provide practical advice and guidance to assist with all your compliance needs, such as:

  • Preparation of risk assessments identifying obligations and responsibilities under the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice;
  • Assessment of Remote Technical Standards appropriate to your operation; and
  • Development of a comprehensive compliance strategy including the preparation of adherence policies addressing such matter as: Social Responsibility; Promotion of the Licensing Objectives; Customer monitoring and intervention; Advertising and marketing.

Our experience can often play a key role in steering operators through the regulatory arena.

Gambling

Raising funds for charity

We advise clients ranging from local fundraisers to national charities with both licensed and unlicensed charitable promotions.

Whatever your chosen good cause we can help find the most appropriate option available to your operation and fund raising objectives whether that be charitable betting, gaming or operating a lottery.

We also assist and advise External Lottery Managers with their management operations.


Gambling

Comprehensive support for the Leisure Industry

From operators of single event spaces to national pub chains and holiday leisure complexes, we can provide advice and support for all your gaming needs.

Whether or not your chosen activities require licences or other permissions, our experts can provide practical solutions on matters such as:

Gambling

Training

We have prepared bespoke training programmes for operators of single premises to international corporations operating multiple premises.

Training can be tailored to your specific needs whether an introduction to the gambling regime or more detailed support for area managers or individuals occupying qualifying positions on an operating licence.

As part of Poppleston Allen Training we can also provide British Institute of Innkeeping certified training courses and qualifications including the Award for Licensing Practioners (Gambling) and the Award for working within Gambling Legislation.


Gambling

Gambling Commission

The Gambling Commission is the national regulator of gambling in Great Britain and was created by the Gambling Act 2005, replacing the Gaming Board.

The Commission and all gambling in Great Britain is led by the three Licensing Objectives:

  1. Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
  2. Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; and
  3. Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Gambling Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating businesses and individuals that provide facilities for gambling. It also provide advice and guidance to local authorities and Central Government on gambling-related issues.

The Gambling Commission is a non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport and has broad ranging powers to investigate, enforce against and prosecute businesses and individuals for breaches of the Gambling Act 2005.

Gambling

Occasional Use Notice

Where track premises does not already hold a premises licence issued under the Gambling Act 2005, it may apply for an Occasional Use Notice (OUN) to permit betting during the course of a genuine sporting event held at the track.

OUN’s are designed to permit licensed betting operators, those which hold the appropriate Operating Licence, to provide betting facilities at the track premises during the period of the notice.

OUNs can be used to permit betting for a maximum of 8 days per calendar year and a separate OUN is required for each day that betting is to be operated.

Gambling

Temporary Use Notice

Temporary Use Notices (TUNs) permit an Operator, which holds an appropriate Operating Licence, to provide commercial gambling in premises that do not already hold a premises licence issued under the Gambling Act 2005. Common examples include hotels, conference centres or other entertainment venues.

Only Equal Chance Gaming is permitted under a TUN, which means games where players to do not compete against a ‘bank’ and all players have an equal chance of winning a prize. such as poker and bingo. All gaming provided under a TUN must relate to the activities permitted by the applicant’s Operating Licence.

Importantly all gaming operated under a TUN must be organised as a tournament ensuring that all participants are taking part in a competition which is intended to produce a single overall winner’

Gambling under a TUN may only be made available for a maximum of 21 days in any 12-month period for any set of premises.