Licence - gambling
Laws on gambling have three objectives. These are:
- keeping gambling crime free;
- making sure that gambling is fair and open;
- protecting children and vulnerable adults.
Apart from the National Lottery and spread betting, gaming and betting is regulated by the Gambling Commission, whose duties include licensing the operators and individuals involved in providing gaming and betting facilities.
Allerdale Borough Council is a licensing authority under the Gambling Act and has a duty to licence premises where gambling is to take place and to licence certain other activities (such as registering small society lotteries ).
We issue premises licences for:
- Betting offices and race tracks
- Bingo clubs
- Adult gaming centres (AGC)
- Family entertainment centre (FEC)
We issue permits for:
- Gaming machines in alcohol-licensed premises, such as pubs
- Gaming machines for members clubs
- Gaming in members clubs
- Unlicensed family entertainment centres
- Prize gaming
Temporary and Occasional use notices
There is also a system of Temporary Use Notices and Occasional Use Notices. These authorise premises that are not licensed generally for gambling purposes to be used for certain types of gambling for limited periods. We also issue provisional statements.
How do I get a licence for gambling activities?
Please contact our licensing department on 0300 373 3730 who can provide more information and application forms.
Review of Gambling Policy 23-26
Gambling Act 2005 – Consultation on Statement of Gambling Policy 2023-2026
Cumberland Council was formed on 1 April 2023. Under the Gambling Act 2005, each local authority is required to prepare and publish their statement of policy every three years. The sovereign Licensing Authorities had their own Gambling Licensing Policy which were due for review in January 2025. In line with legislation a draft policy has been prepared to produce a Cumberland Council policy. No substantive changes have been made to the contents of the sovereign documents in bringing them together to produce this policy and in principle is identical to the policies previously in place.
Prior to the adoption of the policy there must be a period of consultation with a wide range of organisations, responsible authorities, residents and businesses as specified in the legislation.
The statement of policy sets out the principles that Cumberland Council propose to apply in exercising its functions under the Gambling Act 2005, in particular for managing the expectations in relation to operators with premises in the locality.
The Council is currently undertaking a review of its statement of gambling policy and you have the opportunity to comment as part of this process. The draft policy is available below:
Download the Cumberland Gambling Policy
Draft amendments are in accordance with the latest Gambling Commission guidance and legislation. Also available is a document for completion with any comments you may wish to submit.
Consultation Response Form - Gambling Policy Review
Both documents are also available from Allerdale House, Workington, The Civic Centre, Carlisle and The Market Hall, Whitehaven.
The Statement will be referred to the Licensing Committee on 2 August 2023 together with any responses to the consultation for their consideration. It will then be presented to Council on 26 September 2023 for adoption. Following publication the new policy will be effective from 1 November 2023.
Please return any comments to the Licensing Department, Allerdale House, Workington or by emailing licensing1@cumberland.gov.uk by 11 July 2023.
Existing Gambling Policy - Statement of Principles
The Gambling Act requires all Licensing Authorities to prepare, consult on and publish a Statement of Gambling Policy every three years setting out how the authority will manage the licensing of gambling premises.
See our latest policy below:
