About gambling licences
We are responsible for:
- issuing premises licences for the provision of gambling activities
- issuing permits for unlicensed family entertainment centres, club gaming, club machines, licensed premises gaming machines, and prize gaming
- issuing provisional statements
- receiving and endorsing temporary use notices
- receiving occasional use notices
- registering small lotteries
The aim is to promote the three Licensing Objectives:
- preventing gambling from being a source of crime and 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
Premises licence
You need a licence for the following types of gambling premises:
- Casino premises - currently no permission to issue casino licences in borough
- Bingo premises
- Betting premises, including shops, tracks and premises used by betting intermediaries
- Adult gaming centre (AGC) premises (for category B3, B4, C and D machines)
- Family entertainment centre (FEC) premises (for category C and D machines) – the licensing authority may issue a FEC gaming machine permit, which authorises the use of category D machines only
An application for a provisional statement should be made if the premises is not yet built, need major alterations or the applicant does not yet have the right to occupy. 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 premises 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.
Visit the Gambling commission’s website to apply for a gambling premises licence.
Fees and charges
To apply for a premises licence or provisional statement you must complete the application and submit it to us, along with the required fee.
See our gambling fees and charges page for a full list.
Vary a premises licence
The holder of a premises licence can apply to vary a licence by:
- adding, amending or removing an authorised activity
- amending another detail of the licence
- excluding a default condition
- adding, amending or removing a discretionary condition
To vary the licence an application must be submitted, along with a plan of the premises, if applicable and the fee.
Transfer a licence
When the control of an existing licensed gambling premises is to change to a different operator, it is necessary to apply to the Council as the Licensing Authority to transfer the licence.
Permits cannot be transferred
Review of gambling premises licence
A responsible authority or interested party may apply to the council as Licensing Authority for a review by the authority of a premises licence.
Any application to have a premises licence reviewed must clearly show how the operation of the individual premises has not promoted, or has worked against, one or more of the three licensing objectives.
Any person or body making the initial application for the review of a premises licence must serve notice of the application on the council as Licensing Authority, the holder of the premises licence and each of the Responsible Authorities.
Responsible authorities within º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø Borough Council
Planning
Environmental Health Services
Other responsible authorities
Chief Officer of Police
C.O Licensing Section
Horsham Police Station
Hurst Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 2DJ
Email WestSussex.Licensing@sussex.police.uk
Children's Safeguarding Unit
Room 24, Durban House
Durban Road
Bognor Regis
PO22 9RE
Email cputeam@westsussex.gov.uk
The Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4BP
Email info@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
WSCC Fire and Rescue Service
FAO Fire Safety, Business Fire Safety
Horsham Fire Station
Hurst Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 2DN
Email FireSafety@westsussex.gov.uk
HM Customs and Excise
HM Revenue and Customs
Excise Processing Teams
BX9 1GL
Email NRUBettingGaming@hmrc.gov.uk
Statement of Licensing Policy - Gambling Act
This policy provides a framework of how we make decisions under the Gambling Act 2005. You are advised to read this policy.