The applicant will need to apply for an operating licence from the Gambling Commission before they apply.
Depending on the size of your business you may also need to apply for personal licences.
The Gambling Commission website can provide more information on how to obtain the required licences.
You can submit an application to the licensing team for either a provisional statement or a premises licence.
An application for a provisional statement should be made if the premises still needs to be built, needs major alterations or the applicant does not yet have the right to occupy it. A provisional statement is not the same as a premises licence but will offer a degree of certainty to the applicant when they come to apply for a premises licence.
A premise licence application should be made if the applicant has the right to occupy the premises, and has a valid operating licence from the Gambling Commission that allows them to run an arcade as a business.
Before you apply for a premises licence, please read the statement of licensing policy:
Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy 2022-2025 (word 525kb)
To apply for a premises licence or a provisional statement you must complete the application and submit it to the licensing team along with the required fee.
Gambling Act 2005 Fees List - 2022 (pdf 80kb)
Premise Licence Application (pdf 24kb)
Provisional Statement Application (pdf 25kb)
The following supporting documents also need to be submitted along with the application:
- evidence that Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out on staff
- evidence that applicants and staff have a full understanding of the maximum stakes and prizes of the gambling that is permissible in betting shops
- evidence that applicants have no relevant convictions
- proof of planning
- proof of the right to occupy the building.
There are 2 different types of conditions which are attached to a premises licence:
Mandatory conditions
These are attached to certain classes of premise licence automatically and the council has no discretion to change, exclude or substitute these.
Default conditions
These are conditions which will be attached to a premises licence automatically unless the applicant states on the application that they wish to exclude or alter a default condition.
Applications can be submitted by post to:
Licensing Team
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
County Hall
Cross Street
Beverley
HU17 9BA.
or via one of the customer service centres. Please use our customer service centre finder to locate a centre.
The applicant must also give notice of their application for a premises licence to the following authorities; Gambling Commission, HMRC, Police Chief, Fire and Rescue, Environmental Health Department, Local Licensing Authority Child Protection Service.
Notice of premises licence application to responsible authorities Form A (pdf 16kb)
Notice of application for a premises licence to responsible authorities Form B (pdf 12kb)
Form of Notice Provisional statement Form A (pdf 10kb)
Notice of application for a provisional statement Form B (pdf 12kb)
Responsible Authorities Contact details (pdf 92kb)
The applicant must also advertise the application once in a local newspaper or newsletter within 10 working days of submitting the application to the licensing team and by posting a notice in a convenient place outside the premises for a period of 28 days.
Notice Newspaper and Public Premises Licence (pdf 13kb)
Representations may be made against the application in order to be considered valid objections must be based on one of the 3 licensing objectives.
These are:
- preventing gambling for being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime and 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.
If a relevant objection is received to an application a sub-committee will be arranged to determine the application. The licensing sub-committee will be made up of 3 councillors. The applicant will be notified not more than 10 working days before the date of the hearing and sent a report with copies of the representations that have been received against the application. Guidance will also be given on the format of the hearing.
The sub-committee may make the following outcomes as a result of the hearing:
- grant the licence/provisional statement as per the application
- grant the licence/provisional statement subject to additional conditions (this could include a reduction to the hours applied for)
- refuse the application.
If the applicant is unhappy with the decision made by the sub-committee they have the right of appeal to the magistrates’ court. Information on how to appeal will be included in the decision letter.
When the licence is granted the applicant will be sent the licence and summary in the post. The summary must go on display on a prominent position on the premises.
The premises licence holder must pay the first annual fee within 30 days of the grant of the licence and then an annual fee on or before the anniversary of the grant date each year. If an annual fee is not paid the licence will lapse.
The licence would also lapse if any of the following circumstances occur:
- the annual fee is not paid
- the holder is not occupying the premises
- the holder of the licence is an individual and they die
- the holder of the licence is an individual that becomes mentally or physically incapacitated
- the holder becomes bankrupt
- the holder goes into liquidation
- notice of surrender of the licence is served on the licensing authority
- forfeiture by a court.
It is the responsibility of the premises licence holder to ensure that the licence is run in line with the Gambling Act 2005 regulations.
Applicants who have applied for a provisional statement will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application. A grant application for a premises licence must be submitted once they have the right to occupy the premises or the building has been completed.
The licensing authority will not accept any representations to the application unless they address matters that could not have been addressed in the application for a provisional statement or they reflect a change in the applicant’s circumstances.