Licensing Service: Gambling Licensing Policy Statement 2025-2028

Overview

The Council is reviewing its Gambling Licensing Policy Statement

under Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005.

Our Statement of Gambling Policy is a document we must produce by law. It sets out our approach to gambling licensing in the Borough of Rochdale.  It gives guidance to licence holders, applicants and people who may comment on licence applications of our policies and expectations. We are legally obliged to have regard to our Statement of Gambling Policy when we make decisions on licence applications or reviews.

In April 2023, the government published a White Paper titled “High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age.” The White Paper set out the government’s plan for reform of gambling regulation.

Whilst many of the proposed reforms were not directly relevant to the role that the Council plays in the regulation of gambling activities, there were some proposed changes that were directly relevant.

Further to the last government’s consultation on the proposed reforms, the last government has since provided an update in May 2024 setting out the measures and proposals they were intending to introduce. 

These included:

-  Proposal to adjust / relax the existing rules that apply to casinos
-  A review of the premises licence fees cap for local authorities
-  Proposal to adjust machine allowances for arcades and bingo halls to allow greater flexibility over their gaming machine offer
-  Proposal in respect of cashless payments on gaming machines
-  Proposals to change the rules that allow under 18s to play certain Category D gaming machines that pay cash prizes

At this stage, we await on the current government to bring forward any relevant legislation to implement any proposed reforms.

Therefore, only a few amendments have been made to the policy itself, with the existing policy remaining largely unchanged from the current version.

We propose to undertake a full review of the policy once any new guidance or legislation is published.

Should you have any comments on the suggested amendments (highlighted in red in the policy) or indeed you wish to propose other alterations to the policy, please send them in writing no later than 5pm on 16 August 2024.

Responses to the consultation should be sent by email to

licensing.reg@rochdale.gov.uk or by post to:

Rochdale Borough Council
Licensing Service
Floor 3, Number One Riverside,
Smith Street, Rochdale,
OL16 1XU