The Gambling Act 2005 changed the law on gambling. It covers three types of licence:

• operating licences

• personal licences

• premises licences

The Act contains three licensing aims which include:

• stopping gambling from being a source of crime or disorder (including being linked with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime)

• making sure that gambling happens in a fair and open way

• protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling

Find out about the various Gambling Act 2005 fees.

The Gambling Commission

The Gambling Commission carries out the role that includes regulating gaming and certain lotteries.

The commission grants operating and personal licences for commercial gambling and people working in the industry. It also regulates certain lottery managers and promoters. You can find out more on the Gambling Commission website.

The role of local councils

The Gambling Act 2005 gives local councils a number of important roles related to gambling. The main ones are to:

• manage licence premises for gambling - casino, bingo and betting premises (including tracks, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres)

• look at notices given for the temporary use of premises for gambling

• grant permits for gaming and gaming machines in clubs and miners' welfare institutes

• regulate gaming and gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises

• grant permits to family entertainment centres for the use of certain lower stake gaming machines

• grant permits for prize gaming

• look at occasional use notices for betting at tracks

• register small societies lotteries

Only people who hold, or have applied for, an operating licence from the Gambling Commission may apply to us for a premises licence. The exception is the case of tracks.

If you've any queries regarding the Gambling Act 2005 please contact us.

Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Policy

We, acting as a licensing authority, have a statutory duty to publish a Statement of Gambling policy at regular intervals.

Read the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Policy.

You can feedback your comments by emailing licensing@barnsley.gov.uk or by posting them to: Licensing, Regulatory Services, PO Box 634, Barnsley, S70 9GG.