Licensing Board - Consultation on Gambling Statement of Principles (2025 - 2028)

Overview

The Licensing Board is consulting on the terms of its Gambling Policy Statement.  The policy statement forms the basis upon which the Board considers applications for premises licenses for venues such as betting shops, bingo halls, gaming machines in entertainment centres and pubs, etc.

The policy does not cover matters which are the responsibility of the Gambling Commission, such as online gambling and the national lottery.  In addition, the Licensing Board has a separate policy on alcohol licensing which does not form part of this consultation.

In preparing this policy and in exercising these functions, the Licensing Board must have regard to the statutory guidance issued by the Gambling Commission and to the licensing objectives set out in the Act, namely:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; and
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

You can view the draft statement in the 'Related' section at the bottom of the page.  The Gambling Act 2005 and the Gambling Commission Guidance is also linked, below.

Why your views matter

The Board must ensure that it reviews its gambling policy at least every three years.  In doing so, it is important the Board is able to take account of the views of a range of potential consultees including trade representatives or their representatives, the wider general public and statutory consultees such as Police Scotland.  The Board welcomes comments from interested parties who have not otherwise been contacted by email.