Andrew Woods reports on the vexed issue of split premises
The Gambling Commission reminded all licensed operators via a press release in January, that betting premises must offer betting as the primary gambling activity in line with the commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (Supplement 4). The release came after the rejection of two betting premises licence applications by local councils, in which the commission made representations, with the aim of “establishing principle and precedents with regard to the provision of the primary gambling activity”.
The release offered further guidance on a subject which continues to cause much debate since the Gambling Act 2005 came into force on 1 September 2007, namely the vexed issue of “split premises”, which arises when an operator seeks to obtain more than one licence for gambling; either for the same type of gambling or a different type of gambling within what may, or may not, be described as the same building.
Any application for a premises licence must be considered in accordance with the relevant Codes of Practice and Guidance issued by the commission, the licensing objectives under the
