Hackney's Gambling Policy review underway
Hackney Council is in the process of reviewing its Gambling Policy, and is asking residents and businesses for comments before finalising the policy for the next three years.
The Council’s current Gambling Policy has been in place since 2007, and by law, the Council has to review it at least every three years. Hackney Council is taking this opportunity to find out residents’ and businesses’ views on the impact the policy is having on managing gambling activity in Hackney.
We want to hear what people think, whether they live or work in the borough. Any feedback we receive will be taken into consideration before we finalise the Gambling Policy for the next three years.
The document sets out the principles that the Council will apply when considering applications under the Gambling Act 2005. Before issuing a licence the Council considers the following:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
- Ensure that gambling is carried out in a fair and open way;
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
Since 2007 the Council’s Licensing Committee has been responsible for granting premises licences for:
- Bingo halls;
- Betting shops, including tracks (for e.g. horse or dog racing);
- Amusement arcades other permits and notices for gambling activities.
There are currently 62 licensed gambling premises across the borough: 58 betting shops; one bingo hall and three adult gaming centres.
At present there are no casinos in Hackney and the Council has previously passed a ‘no casino’ resolution and will consider this step again in the future.
Further information is available from the Licensing Service and comments can be submitted to FREEPOST HACKNEY LICENSING SERVICE. Comments must be received by 5pm on Friday 4 September 2015.