Notification of two or less Gaming Machines

Section 282 of the Gambling Act provides an automatic entitlement to make available two gaming machines (of categories C or D) for use in premises which hold a Premise Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 for the sale by retail or supply of alcoholic liquor on the premises, and serves alcohol without the requirement that it accompanies food. So, any hotel, restaurant or pub that has a bar can apply for a notification under the Gambling Act, but hotels and restaurants that serve alcohol only with food will not be able to have gaming machines.

Gaming machine categories summary [12KB]

To do this the Premise Licence Holder, under the Licensing Act 2003, must give notice to us of their intention to make gaming machines available for use by completing an application and must pay a £50 fee (no annual fees).

Application for a gaming machine permit (or notification of two or less gaming machines) [80KB]

This is not an authorisation procedure. Licensing authorities have no discretion to consider the notification or to turn it down. They can, however, remove the automatic authorisation in respect of any particular premises by making an order under section 284 of the Act.

That section provides for the licensing authority to make such an order if:

• provision of the machines is not reasonably consistent with the pursuit of the licensing objectives
• gaming has taken place on the premises that breaches a condition of section 282 - for example, the gaming machines have been made available in a way that does not comply with requirements on the location and operation of gaming machines
• the premises are mainly used for gaming
• an offence under the Gambling Act has been committed on the premises.

Transfer of the Premises Licence Holder under the Licensing Act

If at any time you change the premises licence holder at the premises you will also need to apply for a new notification and pay the fee.

If the previous owners already have a notification in place then this will lapse once you transfer the premises licence.

Application to transfer a premises licence [22KB]

Related documents

For further information on fees and guidance documents in relation to gaming machines and the categories for gaming machines please see the guidance documents page.

Application forms

Please see the application forms page for a list of all the application forms required under the Gambling Act 2003.