Inspection guide – Casinos (Converted)
This template may assist authorised local authority officers with their compliance visits. It provides a list of the matters which are provided for as premises licence mandatory and default conditions. Additional conditions attached by the licensing authority can be added to this list. It also outlines further requirements set out in the legislation and within the codes of practice issued by the Gambling Commission. Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005 requires Licensing Authorities to exercise its functions in accordance with relevant codes of practice and those listed in this template aim to ensure that gambling is fair and safe for all.
Please check that this is the correct template:This template should be used for casino premises whose permissions were originally granted under the Gaming Act 1968 (that is, their licences issued under the 1968 Act were converted under the Gambling Act 2005 so that they could continue to trade). The vast majority of casino premises in Britain are converted casinos. For inspections of Casinos which were licensed after the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005, please use either the ‘Casino (Large)’ or ‘Casino (Small)’ template.
A simple risk rating system has been added for you to use or amend to your own requirements. Compliance is indicated by ticking the ‘Yes’ box and the overall score can be used to inform an inspection plan if desired.
Premises name and addressPremises person(s) present
Authorised Officer(s)
Signature of Authorised Officer(s)
Date and time of the assessment
Premises licence condition / Comment
Premises Summary Display
Summary of the terms and conditions of the premises licence shall be displayed in a prominent place within the premises (mandatory condition – SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Plan
The layout of the premises shall be maintained in accordance with the plan (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Lottery Tickets
The premises shall not be used for the sale of tickets in a private lottery or customer lottery or the sale of tickets in any other lottery (the National Lottery) in respect of which the sale of tickets on the premises is otherwise prohibited (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Principal Entrance
The principal entrance to the premises shall be from a street (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Entrance Restrictions - Children
No entrance to the premises shall be from premises that are used wholly or mainly by children, by young persons, or by both (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Entrance Restrictions – Other Licensed Premises
No customer shall be able to access the premises directly from any other premises in respect of which a premises licence or the following types of permit have effect:
· unlicensed family entertainment centre gaming machine permit
· club gaming or club machine permit
· alcohol licensed premises gaming machine permit
(mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Minimum Gaps – Gaming Tables
A gap of at least 2 metres shall be maintained between any ordinary gaming table and any other equipment, apparatus or structure used by a person to gamble on the premises (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Player Positions – Wholly Automated Gaming
No more than 40 separate player positions may be made available for use in relation to wholly automated gaming tables at any time (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Rules on Casino Games
The rules of each type of casino game that is available to be played on the premises shall be displayed in a prominent place within both the table gaming area and other gambling areas of the premises to which customers wishing to use facilities for gambling have unrestricted access. This can be a clear and legible sign setting out the rules, or by making leaflets or other written material with the rules, available to customers (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
ATM Location
Any ATM made available for use on the premises shall be located in a place that requires any customer who wishes to use it to cease gambling at any gaming machine in order to do so (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Under 18 Notices
A notice shall be displayed in a prominent place at every entrance to the premises stating that no person under the age of 18 years is permitted to enter the premises (mandatory condition - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Non-gaming areas
Where the gambling area is 200m2 or more then the premises shall contain a non-gambling area which is no less than 10% of the gambling floor area. The non-gambling area may consist of one or more areas within the premises and may include (but not be exclusively) lobby areas and toilet facilities. Facilities for gambling must not be provided in the non-gambling area. Each non-gambling area, other than the lobby and toilet areas, must contain recreational facilities for use by customers (mandatory premises - SI 2007 / 1409). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Hours of Operation
Hours of operation – No facilities for gambling shall be provided on the premises between the hours of 6am and noon on any day (default premises licence condition - SI 2007 / 1409).
(Note: This requirement may have been altered by the addition of a different local authority agreed condition regarding hours of operation.) / Yes / 0
No / 10
Licensing Authority Conditions
Additional premises licence conditions attached by the licensing authority:
Note: where a condition is attached to a premises licence to require door supervisors, if the Private Security and Industry Act 2001 means that they must be SIA registered then that also becomes a condition of the premises licence (GA05 Section 178). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Gambling Act 2005 legislation (GA05)
Gaming Machines Available for Use
Gaming machines permitted: Maximum of 20 machines categories B to D (no B3A) or any number of C or D machines instead. (GA05 Section 172 as amended by SI 2007 / 3272 paragraph 65(6) and SI 2007 / 2158)
Category B1 = £5 stake / £10,000 money prize for a single machine or £20,000 money prize if linked to the use of another B1 on the same premises
Category B2 = £100 / £500 money prize
Category B3 = £2 stake / £500 money prize
Category B4 = £2 stake / £400 money prize
Category C = £1 stake / £100 money prize
Category D = 10p stake / £5 money prize or 30p stake / £8 non-money prize or 10p stake / £8 prize of which £5 maximum is money.
Note: stakes may be paid by cash or non-cash forms of payment, except that credit cards cannot be used directly or indirectly to pay for any gaming machine use and debit cards may only be used as an indirect form of payment e.g. to purchase a token or smart card that is subsequently put in the machine
(SI 2007 / 2158 and SI 2007 / 2319).
Licensing Officers may also wish to familiarise themselves with SI 2007 / 2319 and SI 2007 / 2320 which include requirements that gaming machines display:
· what category it is
· the name and telephone number for assistance with problem gambling
· that the machine is not to be used by child / young person unless it is a category D
· the % return to player / Yes / 0
No / 10
Premises Licence Availability
Premises licence shall be kept on the premises and available on request by police, enforcement officer or authorised local authority officer (GA05 Section 185). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Christmas Day
No gambling on Christmas Day (GA05 Section 183). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Under 18s Gambling
Protection of Children & Young Persons - Offence if invite, causes or permit a person under 18 to gamble (GA05 Section 46). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Under 18s Entering Premises
Offence if invites or permit a person under 18 from entering premises where the premises licence has effect (GA05 Section 47). / Yes / 0
No / 10
Under 18s Employment
Offence if employ:
· a person under 18 to provide facilities for gambling (GA05 Section 51)
· a person under 18 to perform any function on the premises where gaming machines are sited or in connection with a gaming machine (GA05 Section 54)
· a person under 18 to perform any function on the premises where a casino premises licence has effect and where the gambling activity is being carried on (GA05 Section 55) / Yes / 0
No / 10
Social Responsibility Code Provisions (SRCP)
Responsibility for Third Parties (SRCP 1.1)
Does the licensee contract any third parties in relation to their licensed activities? Is a commitment to taking responsibility for third party operators evident? / Yes / 0
No / 10
Research, Education and Treatment Contribution (SRCP 3.1)
Can the licensee evidence an annual financial contribution to one or more organisation(s) which between them research into the prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm, develop harm prevention approaches and identify and fund treatment to those harmed by gambling.
For national/regional operators, it may not be possible to establish compliance at a premises level.
Primary Authority Partnerships
· Has the operator formed a partnership with another Local Authority?
· If so, who is the Primary Authority?
Please visit: www.primaryauthorityregister.info for the public register and for further details about Primary Authority.
If the operator has agreed a National Inspection Plan with a Local Authority, you should not request to view training documents or policies relating to Age Verification (and therefore should not ask the questions in the section immediately below).
If there is any age verification non-compliance identified, the Primary Authority must be notified. (If the agreement is for ‘advice only’, it is good practice to notify the Primary Authority).
Policies for preventing Under Age Gambling (SRCP 3.2)
Does the licensee have and put into effect policies and procedures designed to prevent underage gambling?
Things to consider and evidence:
· The licensee must designate at least one supervisor for each entrance
· Are checks of age carried out on apparently underage customers?
· Is service refused to adults accompanied by a child or young person?
· Is only suitable ID accepted?
· Is there an awareness of the legal requirements on returning stakes and not paying prizes to underage customers?
· Has the structure and layout of the premises been taken into account in the prevention of access to gambling by children and young persons?
· What is the policy for induction and refresher training on preventing under age gambling?
· Does staff training cover all relevant prohibitions against inviting children or young persons to gamble or to enter gambling premises?
· Does the licensee conduct test purchasing or take part in collective test purchasing programmes? / Yes / 0
No / 10
Problem Gambling Materials (SRCP 3.3)
Is information readily available to customers on how to gamble responsibly and seek help in respect of problem gambling? Things to consider and evidence:
· Is information displayed prominently on posters appropriate to the size and layout of the premises?
· Is information contained in leaflets that may be taken away or through the use of links for online or smart technology?
· Can information be obtained by customers discreetly? / Yes / 0
No / 10
Policies for Customer Interaction (SRCP 3.4 and OC 3.4.2)
Has the licensee put into effect policies and procedures for customer interaction where they have concerns that a customer’s behaviour may indicate problem gambling?
Things to consider and evidence:
· Who is designated to deal with problem gambling issues?
· Are employees trained in recognising types of behaviour that may be indicative of problem gambling?
· Is training provided on induction and refreshed at suitable intervals?
· What is the policy for dealing with customers showing signs of distress?
· Is the licensee able to evidence that customer interaction has been undertaken in appropriate circumstances?
· Do records show circumstances where customer interaction has been ruled out?
· Does the licensee use all available sources of information to identify ‘at risk’ customers? (Is this put into practice for high value and VIP customers?) / Yes / 0
No / 10
Policies for Self Exclusion (SRCP 3.5)
Does the licensee have and put into effect procedures for self-exclusion? These procedures must include:
· Employee induction and refresher training to ensure the system is enforced
· A register of those excluded, with appropriate records (i.e. name, address)
· Photo ID (or an effective alternative) and a signature
· Signposting to counselling and support services
· The removal of those persons found on the premises.
· Consideration of the premises layout.
· Minimum exclusion period of between 6 and 12 months with the option to extend for periods of at least 6 months,
· 24 hour cooling off period for at least 6 months after end of exclusion
· Removal of customer from marketing databases during period of exclusion
· Policy to guard against self-excluded individuals using another person to gamble on their behalf
· Informing staff of individuals who have breached agreements / Yes / 0