Statement of principles for gambling in Westminster
Our statement of principles for gambling.
The council, acting as the Licensing Authority under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act), is responsible for reviewing and deciding on land-based gambling premises within the city. This includes applications for premises licenses for new betting shops, tracks, bingo halls, and gaming arcades (Adult Gaming Centres and Family Entertainment Centres). We also assess applications to modify these premises and casino licenses. Additionally, we oversee applications for lower-risk gambling permits, lotteries, and gambling-related notifications, such as Occasional and Temporary Use Notices.
Under the Act we are required to publish a statement of the principles for gambling that we propose to apply when exercising our functions under the Act. This is commonly referred to as the gambling policy.
This gambling policy must be kept under constant review and, if necessary, revised before being published every three years. The first policy period of three years started on 31 January 2007, so all subsequent three-year policy periods run from that date. The current and all previous editions of our gambling policy are accessible via the links below. The current three-year gambling policy period is due to expire on 30 January 2025.
On 19 November 2024 the council agreed to re-adopt the current Gambling Policy to take effect for the next three-year policy period, commencing 31 January 2025.
Current Gambling Policy
Our Gambling Policy is a key element when determining whether an application should be permitted, in line with the principles that must be applied under the Act.
The policy builds on the requirements for gambling operators to fully assess the associated risk of their gambling operation, which includes the premises, the gambling activity and its location on the licensing objectives under the Act.
The policy also supports the findings from our Local Area Profile for gambling risk in Westminster. It sets out the Gambling Vulnerability Zones and associated policy approaches to highlight the areas where some people may be at greater risk of gambling-related harm.
Our gambling policy establishes our expectations of applicants and existing operators to fully assess and address within their application the potential risks as set out within the policy and Local Area Profile for gambling risk in Westminster documents. Existing operators will also be expected to review their gambling risk assessments and ensure that they have taken account of our Local Area Profile for Gambling risk for Westminster and this policy.
Residents and Responsible Authorities should use this policy when considering applications for new premises and variations of existing ones and the potential impact that the application if granted, may have in the area.
You can review the current gambling policy below:
Previous statements of principles
- 12 December 2022 to 30 January 2025, Edition 6 of our statement of principles:
- 31 January 2022 to 11 December 2022
- 31 January 2019 to 30 January 2022.
- (31 January 2016 to 30 January 2019)
Document
Edition 4 of our statement of principles PDF, 335.63 KB, 58 pages - (31 January 2013 to 30 January 2016)
Document
Edition 3 of our statement of principles PDF, 581.58 KB, 46 pages - (31 January 2010 to 30 January 2013
Document
Edition 2 of our statement of principles PDF, 366.6 KB, 45 pages - (31 January 2007 to 30 January 2010)
Document
Edition 1 of our statement of principles PDF, 330.22 KB, 33 pages
Published: 15 January 2021
Last updated: 20 March 2025
