Gambling - Local Risk Assessments come into effect 6th April 2016

On 6^th April the new social responsibility code provision 10.1.1 will come into effect.

Operators of the following premises must have conducted an assessment of the local risks to the licensing objectives:

• adult gaming centres
• family entertainment centres
• non-remote betting
• non-remote bingo
• non-remote casinos
• remote betting intermediary (trading room only). 

This is a document which the local licensing authority may take into consideration when determining applications for new premises licences or variations to existing licences. The provision requires that the assessment should also be reviewed in light of ‘significant’ changes at the licensee’s premises or local circumstances. 

The Gambling Commission have provided further guidance on what they expect of these risk assessments here. 

Ordinary code provision 10.1.2. recommends that “Licensees should share their risk assessment with licensing authorities when applying for a premises licence or applying for a variation to existing licensed premises, or otherwise on request.” Ordinary code provision do not have the status of operator licence conditions but set out good practice. Although not licence conditions, they can be taken into account by Courts and the Commission when assessing the actions and suitability of the licence holder.