Yesterday the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its proposals for inviting competing applications for casino premises licences and a Code of Practice for determining applications. The consultation period is until 2 May 2007 and interested parties, such as licensing authorities, religious and community groups and casino operators, are invited to make their comments on the proposals.

The process for the competition begins with an invitation for competing applications for the premises licence, followed by the submission of the applications to a two-stage consideration process. First a regulatory test must determine which applications would gain approval if an unlimited number of licences were available. If more than one application passes the first test then the licensing authority must decide which application would be most likely to result in the greatest benefit for the area.

Besides giving consideration to the need to protect children and other vulnerable people and prevent any new casino becoming a source of crime or disorder, licensing authorities must ensure that the competition is run fairly and transparently. Prior agreements between local authorities and operators must not actually or apparently prejudice the ability to run a fair and open competition. The views of local people must also be taken into account. Premises licence applications must be consistent with the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005.

According to the DCMS proposals, “An invitation to apply for a casino premises licence must be publicised by a licensing authority in a manner that ensures that it is likely to come to the attention of as many potentially interested bidders nationally and internationally as possible. This will include, as a minimum, publication of the invitation in: a casino trade publication with national and international circulation; and the Official Journal of the European Union; and the invitation must be so publicised at least three months before the final date on which applications for the casino premises licence may be submitted.” (E-02.22.07)

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