As the licensing authority, we are required to publish a new statement of gambling policy for the borough at least every 3 years under the Gambling Act 2005. The draft policy sets out the principles by which Haringey Council as a licensing authority will use its powers under the Act.
The aim of the policy is to:
- prevent gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
- ensure that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
- protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling
The gambling policy covers:
- issuing gambling premises licenses
- regulating gambling premises activities
- granting of temporary or occasional use notices for infrequent betting and gaming
We want this policy document to:
- provide applicants with a clear, consistent basis for submitting applications and notices in Haringey
- provide a clear, consistent basis for determining licence applications
- ensure the relevant views of those affected by licensed premises are taken into consideration
- ensure local area issues are taken into account by licensed premises
- support our wider strategies and the approach to gambling in Haringey
What we are proposing
We have revised the policy in line with the latest guidance from the Gambling Commission. This will provide practical clarity to existing and potential licence holders and help council officers to correctly apply the legal provisions of the Gambling Act 2005.
The revision has led to:
- minor amendments that update guidance references
- updates to out of date references and links
- removal of sections of the current policy that were out of date or no longer relevant
The local area profile has been refreshed and is included in the draft statement. The profile maps local areas of concern, including actual and future emerging evidence-based risks that may affect the licensing of gambling premises and activities. Operators are encouraged to use the profile to help inform them of specific risks before submitting licence applications.
Have your say
We are now consulting on the changes and would like to hear views from residents, licence holders, and other stakeholders. The consultation starts on 23 July 2024 and ends at midnight on 3 September 2024.
Please read the draft statement of gambling policy 2025-2028 BEFORE answering the online survey as this will provide you with all of the necessary background information.
We welcome your views but, as per the Gambling Act, we cannot consider comments involving:
- moral objections: we cannot take into account comments based on a dislike of gambling, or a general view that it is undesirable to allow gambling premises in the borough
- demand: we cannot take into account issues around the demand or need for gambling premises in the borough
What happens next
We will consider your views and decide whether to make any changes to the draft policy. We will then present the final version to the council for adoption and publication.