Anyone wanting to run a casino, betting shop, bingo club or gaming centre in the London Borough of Camden must first clear a licensing process that sits alongside national rules from the Gambling Commission. The council acts as the local licensing authority under the Gambling Act 2005, a role that covers everything from full premises licences to smaller permits for gaming machines in pubs and clubs, and registrations for charity lotteries.
Two tiers of authorisation, different purposes
The system splits into distinct categories depending on scale and risk. A premises licence is the heavier instrument, required for casinos, betting offices, race tracks, bingo clubs, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres. Five separate application forms exist depending on which of these activities applies, and operators must select the correct one before submitting to the council.
Lighter-touch permits and notices cover smaller-scale gambling activity: gaming machines in premises that already hold an alcohol licence, gaming within members' clubs, unlicensed family entertainment centres and prize gaming. These carry their own application forms and fees, set out in the council's schedule of gambling fees. The distinction matters commercially - a members' club running a few machines faces a far lighter compliance burden than a full casino operator, reflecting the lower risk such activity is judged to pose.
Lotteries sit outside the premises system
Non-commercial societies - those run for charitable, sporting, cultural or other non-profit purposes - do not need a premises licence to run a lottery. Instead, they register with the licensing authority covering their principal office. Registration has no fixed expiry; it continues until the society or the authority cancels it.
The Act draws a firm line around what counts as a "small" lottery. A single lottery cannot generate proceeds above £20,000, and total proceeds across all lotteries run by a society in a calendar year cannot exceed £250,000. A society that breaches these limits is barred from promoting another lottery for three calendar years. Registration costs £40 initially, with a £20 annual renewal fee - modest sums that reflect the non-commercial, community-based nature of these schemes rather than a commercial gambling operation.
Three objectives underpin every decision
Camden's licensing role is not discretionary box-ticking. The council must weigh every application against three statutory objectives: keeping gambling free from links to crime and disorder, ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and protecting children and vulnerable people from harm. These objectives, rather than commercial convenience, are meant to drive whether and how a licence is granted.
In practice this means applications are assessed against Gambling Commission codes of practice and guidance, alongside Camden's own Statement of Licensing Policy - a document reviewed every three years, with the current version running from 2023 to 2026. Local context also plays a role; the council maintains a Local Area Profile identifying specific risks or sensitivities within the borough that might influence licensing decisions.
It is worth distinguishing the council's role from the Gambling Commission's. The Commission handles operating licences and personal licences for commercial gambling businesses generating over £250,000, along with individuals working in the industry. Camden's authority is narrower but locally grounded: premises-level decisions, inspections and enforcement within the borough.
Ongoing compliance, not a one-off approval
A licence is not the end of the relationship. Camden carries out premises visits to check operators are trading in line with their licence conditions and the Commission's codes of practice. Failure to comply can trigger a licence review or prosecution - a reminder that gambling premises operate under continuous regulatory scrutiny rather than a single gatekeeping decision at the outset. For operators, this translates into a standing compliance obligation: recordkeeping, staff training and adherence to responsible-gambling measures all factor into whether a licence remains secure.