Gambling licensing

A premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005 is required for any premises which offers premises-based gambling. A licence is needed to operate a:

• casino
• bingo hall
• betting office (including at sporting venues)
• amusement arcade

Watford Borough Council has passed a resolution that we will not issue any casino licences.

Every premises that require a premises licence will also need an operators licence, and may also need personal licences, from the Gambling Commission.

You should read our gambling policy (PDF 491 kB) before applying.

You must consider how your activities will impact on:

• keeping gambling fair and open
• preventing gambling from becoming a source of crime and disorder
• protecting vulnerable people from harm

Applications must be submitted with a completed application form (PDF 117 kB), a scale premises plan, and the relevant fee. You must also complete a form to submit to the responsible authorities for gambling applications to notify them of your application. The type of form you need to complete depends on whether you are an individual applicant (PDF 104 kB) or multiple applicants (PDF 105 kB).

The Gambling Commission have many guidance notes and leaflets on when you need a licence and what constitutes gambling.

Applications must be advertised by a public notice (PDF 7 kB) in a local newspaper and on the premises for 28 days.

A hearing will be arranged within 20 working days of the consultation closing to consider any objections.

Your application will be granted if no objections are received by the end of the consultation period, otherwise the determination will be made at a hearing.

• New premises licence costs £1,115.35 (except that the fee for new betting off-course or track premises licence, which is capped at £950 where a provisional statement is in force). A provisional statement costs £1,037
• Licence transfer or the reinstatement of a licence costs £1,094.61 (except that a transfer or reistatement of track and family entertainment centre premises licences is capped at £950).
• Variation to an existing licence costs £1,115.35 (except that a variation to an adult gaming centre of family entertainment centre premises licence is capped at £1,000).
• Replacement licence costs £25 
• Change of name or address costs £50 for a licence
• Annual licence fee for a premises licence that permits off-course betting is £546.76
• Annual licence fee for a premises licence that permits adult gaming, bingo or track betting is £1,000

Please note that we can only accept payment by credit and debit card or by bank transfer. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, please contact the licensing team for our bank details.

Licence holders must comply with the conditions of their licence and the mandatory conditions set by the government.

Licence holders must notify the council if they change the name of the premises, the name or address of the licence holder, or if they need a replacement licence.

If you are buying a licensed premise, you must apply to transfer (PDF 21 kB) the licence to you or your company. You must notify the responsible authorities (PDF 234 kB) of your application. The type of form you need to complete depends upon whether you are an individual applicant (PDF 9 kB) or multiple applicants (PDF 11 kB).

Unsuccessful applicants and objectors may appeal to the magistrates’ court within 21 days of being notified of a decision.

Find out more about objecting to licences. You can contact us using our enquiry form, or call 01923 278476.