Gambling licences and permits

If you wish to run premises used for betting, gaming and other types of gambling, you will need to apply for a licence or permit.

On this page:

Gambling policy

The Gambling Act 2005 splits the responsibility of gambling between the Gambling Commission and local authorities. As a local authority, we must:

prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder
ensure that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
protect children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

Our statement of licensing principles is a legally required document, and is reviewed every three years. It outlines our policy in respect of the grant of licences, permits and registrations issued under the Gambling Act 2005. It also indicates how we will promote our responsibilities and our expectations of licence holders.

Intention to publish a statement of revision of Gambling Policy

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, in accordance with Section 349 of The Gambling Act 2005, New Forest District Council, acting in its capacity as the Licensing Authority for the said District, gives notice of its intention to publish its revised Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 on 11 December 2024. The statement covers the period 2025-2027 (inclusive).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the above-mentioned Policy Statement will come into effect on 12 January 2025.

A full copy of the above Policy is provided below. For further information on the Statement or the Gambling Act 2005, contact the Licensing Division via email at licensing@nfdc.gov.uk

DATED THIS 11 December 2024

Joanne McClay

Service Manager, Environmental and Regulation

New Forest District Council, Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA.

Gambling Policy 2025 - 27 (PDF, 651 KB)

Types of licences and permits

You are required to have a premises licence if you want to have any of these types of gambling businesses:

casino
bingo
betting premises
tracks
adult gaming centres
family entertainment centres

You must have a gambling permit for:

unlicensed family entertainment centres
club gaming permits and club machine permits
alcohol licensed premises machine permits
prize gaming

We also administer:

temporary use notices
occasional use notices
small society lottery registrations

For more information about types of licences, visit the Gambling Commission website.

Who can apply

To apply for a premises licence or gambling permit, you must:

be 18 years of age or over
be authorised to make such an application (if applying on behalf of a company or partnership)
hold or have applied for operating licence from the Gambling Commission (if required)

Gaming and gaming machines in clubs

Members' clubs and similar may apply for either a Club Machine Permit or a Club Gaming Permit.

Both allow up to three machines in categories B3A, B4, C or D.

The Club Gaming Permit also allows limited unequal chance gaming.

Gaming machines in alcohol-licensed premises

Pubs and other alcohol-licensed premises are automatically entitled up to two category C or D machines. You are required to submit a notification to us using the Alcohol Premises Gaming Machine Application Form below.

If more than two machines are to be provided, an Alcohol Premises Gaming Machine Permit will be needed.

Apply for a licence or permit

To apply for a premises licence or gambling permit, download the relevant application form below.

Gambling Premises Licence Application Form (PDF, 33 KB)(opens new window)

Club Machine and Gaming Permits Application Form (PDF, 55 KB)(opens new window)

Alcohol Premises Gaming Machine Application Form (PDF, 114 KB)(opens new window)

Once completed, return the relevant form to us with the required documents and the fee.

For a premises licence, there is also a 28 day consultation period following receipt of your complete application. You must therefore also:

advertise your application by publishing a notice in a locally circulated newspaper within ten working days (starting from the day after the application was submitted)
notify responsible authorities by sending a copy of your application form to them

You can download contact details for responsible authorities below.

Gambling and Responsible Authorities (PDF, 96 KB)(opens new window)

For further advice and notice templates, contact us.