Statements of Gambling Licensing Policy & Public Register of Licences

Gambling Act 2005

Under the Gambling Act 2005 Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Councils are local licensing authorities with a number of duties assigned to them.

The Act created a unified national regulator for gambling, the Gambling Commission. The commission grants operating licences, and personal licences, for commercial gambling operators, (including internet gambling) and personnel working within the industry.

Adur & Worthing Councils, as licensing authorities, have responsibility for licensing the actual premises within their areas used for commercial gambling, including bingo premises, betting premises, adult gaming centres, and family entertainment centres.

The Gambling Act contains three licensing objectives which underpin the functions that the commission and the licensing authorities perform:

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 Act requires that licensing authorities publish their statements of licensing policy and review them at least every three years. Both Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils' current policies are currently being reviewed and are currently subject to a comprehensive public, authority and stakeholder consultation will close on 14 October 2024. Details can be found here.

Please refer to the:

Adur and Worthing statements of gambling policy & principles: