Consultation on Draft Statement of Principles for Gambling 2025 - 2028

This consultation closes on 9 August, 2024.

We want your views on our draft  Statement of Principles for Gambling policy (PDF 3.35MB).

We're the licensing authority under the Gambling Act 2005 and responsible for issuing gambling premises licences, gaming permits and small lottery licences since 2007.

We're required under section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 to produce a Statement of Principles for Gambling policy, which must be reviewed every three years.

We must consider the following licensing objectives when undertaking our duties and producing policy under the Gambling Act 2005:

• to prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
• to ensure that gambling is carried out in a fair and open way
• to protect children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

In January 2022, we produced and published the current Statement of Principles for Gambling which sets out the principles it would apply in dealing with applications made under the Gambling Act 2005.

In drafting this Policy, we have been mindful of the demographics of our borough and the impact our policy is having on managing gambling activity for the benefit of the economy and the community in Swale.

The current version of the Statement has now been reviewed and a proposed draft policy has been produced based on the licensing objectives and guidance provided by the Gambling Commission.

Taking part

This consultation is open to residents and businesses, and we would encourage feedback from those with experience of gambling such as the gambling industry in particular.

At the end of the consultation period, the we'll collate and consider the feedback received and may use this information to revise the draft before asking the Council to adopt the new policy formally.

If you would like to make any comments on the draft Statement of Principles, you can email them to licensing@swale.gov.uk.  Alternatively, you can write to us at:

Licensing Team
Swale House
East Street
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 3HT