TranslateGambling licences
North Ayrshire Licensing Board is the local licensing authority for gambling premises licences and a number of other permissions under the Gambling Act 2005.
The Gambling Commission and North Ayrshire Licensing Board have different regulatory functions. The Gambling Commission is responsible for matters including operating licences and personal licences for gambling operators and certain individuals working within the gambling industry. North Ayrshire Licensing Board is responsible for local functions including gambling premises licences, permits, notices and small society lottery registrations.
When carrying out its functions under the Gambling Act 2005, the Licensing Board must have regard to the three gambling licensing objectives:
- preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime
- ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
- protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling
Further information about the national regulatory regime is available from the Gambling Commission.
North Ayrshire Licensing Board is consulting on a proposed replacement Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 and a new Gambling Local Area Profile for North Ayrshire.
The consultation is open from 23 September 2026 until 5pm on 18 November 2026.
The consultation documents are:
- Draft Statement of Principles 2025 to 2028 document
- Draft Gambling Local Area Profile 2026 document
- Report to North Ayrshire Licensing Board – 7 September 2026
Comments can be sent to licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk by 5pm on 18 November 2026. Please use Gambling Policy Consultation 2026 as the email subject where possible. The Board welcomes comments on any aspect of the proposed Statement of Principles or Local Area Profile.
The Licensing Board is required by section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 to publish a Statement of Principles setting out the principles it proposes to apply when exercising its functions under the Act.
The Statement should be read alongside the Gambling Act 2005, relevant Gambling Commission Guidance to Licensing Authorities and the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice.
The Gambling Local Area Profile is a separate evidence document which describes local circumstances that may be relevant to gambling premises and premises-specific risk assessments.
The Local Area Profile does not create a risk rating, exclusion zone, quota or presumption against gambling premises in any particular part of North Ayrshire.
A premises licence may be required where gambling is provided from premises.
The principal types of gambling premises licence are:
- betting premises
- bingo premises
- adult gaming centres
- licensed family entertainment centres
- casino premises
Applications for gambling premises licences are determined in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005, relevant Gambling Commission Guidance and Codes of Practice and the Licensing Board’s Statement of Principles.
North Ayrshire is not currently one of the areas permitted under the national casino regime to issue a new small or large casino premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005.
A premises licence application may involve an application for a new licence or an application relating to an existing licence, including a variation, transfer or reinstatement.
A provisional statement may also be available in relation to premises which are expected to be constructed or altered.
Application forms, information about fees and further information are available by contacting Licensing at licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
North Ayrshire Licensing Board also deals with a number of other permissions under the Gambling Act 2005.
Unlicensed family entertainment centre gaming machine permits
An unlicensed family entertainment centre gaming machine permit allows category D gaming machines to be made available in premises which do not hold a gambling premises licence.
Application forms and further information are available from Licensing.
Club gaming permits and club machine permits
Certain qualifying members’ clubs, commercial clubs and miners’ welfare institutes may be able to apply for a club gaming permit or club machine permit.
The type of gaming and gaming machines which may be provided depends on the type of club and the permission held.
Application forms and further information are available from Licensing.
Gaming machines in alcohol-licensed premises
Certain premises licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises may have an automatic entitlement to provide up to two category C or D gaming machines, subject to the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.
The Licensing Board must be notified and the appropriate fee paid before relying on that entitlement.
A licensed premises gaming machine permit may be required where more than two gaming machines are sought.
Notification forms, permit applications and further information are available from Licensing.
Prize gaming permits
A prize gaming permit may authorise certain prize gaming where the statutory requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 are met.
Application forms and further information are available from Licensing.
Temporary use notices
A temporary use notice may allow gambling to take place at premises for a limited period where the statutory requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 are met.
Temporary use notices are subject to statutory notice requirements and limits.
Further information is available from Licensing.
Occasional use notices
An occasional use notice may allow betting to take place on a track for a limited number of days in a calendar year where the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 are met.
Further information is available from Licensing.
Small society lotteries
Certain non-commercial societies may register with the Licensing Board to operate small society lotteries.
A society must satisfy the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 and remain within the statutory limits applying to small society lotteries.
Application forms and further information about registration and lottery returns are available from Licensing.
For application forms or further information about any of the above, contact licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Certain gambling operators are required under the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice to assess local risks to the gambling licensing objectives and maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls.
A local risk assessment must be prepared or reviewed in circumstances including an application for a new premises licence, an application to vary a premises licence and where significant local or premises circumstances change.
A local risk assessment should consider the particular premises, its location, the gambling activity proposed, relevant local circumstances and the controls the operator intends to use.
The Licensing Board’s Statement of Principles and Local Area Profile should be considered when preparing or reviewing a premises-specific local risk assessment.
The Local Area Profile provides evidence and prompts for consideration. It does not determine the outcome of an application or automatically mean that premises in a particular area are high risk.
Licensing may inspect gambling premises where appropriate in the exercise of the Licensing Board’s functions under the Gambling Act 2005.
The Licensing Board and Gambling Commission have different enforcement and regulatory functions. Where an issue falls within the responsibility of another regulator, it may be referred to that regulator.
Planning, building standards, fire safety and other regulatory requirements are dealt with under their own statutory regimes.
The grant of a gambling premises licence or other Gambling Act permission does not remove the need to comply with any other legal requirements which apply to the premises or activity.
The Gambling Act 2005 identifies a number of responsible authorities which have statutory functions in relation to gambling premises licence applications and reviews.
These include organisations and services with responsibilities relating to matters such as policing, fire safety, planning, environmental health, children and gambling regulation.
Current contact details for responsible authorities are contained in the Licensing Board’s Statement of Principles.
Responsible authorities and persons who qualify as interested parties under the Gambling Act 2005 may make representations about certain gambling premises licence applications.
A person may qualify as an interested party if they:
- live sufficiently close to the premises to be likely to be affected by the authorised activities
- have business interests which might be affected by the authorised activities
- represent someone who falls within either of those categories
Whether a person qualifies as an interested party will depend on the circumstances of the individual case.
A representation must be relevant to the Gambling Act 2005 and should explain the connection between the concerns raised, the premises and the matters the Licensing Board is permitted to consider.
Further information is available from Licensing at licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
A responsible authority or interested party may apply for a review of a gambling premises licence where the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 are met.
The Licensing Board may also initiate a review in circumstances permitted by the Act.
A review is not a general complaints process. An application must identify matters which are relevant to the Gambling Act 2005 and the particular premises licence.
Further information is available from Licensing at licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
North Ayrshire Licensing Board maintains a register of gambling premises licences in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005.
To inspect the register or request information about a gambling premises licence, contact Licensing at licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
If Gambling Act premises licences can be displayed through the Council’s existing online public licensing register, please add a direct link to the relevant register search.
Application forms and information about the appropriate fee are available from Licensing.
If you are unsure which gambling licence, permit, notice or registration is required, please contact:
- Email: licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01294 310000
For advice about gambling premises licences, permits, notices or registrations:
Contact
Address: Licensing, Legal Services, North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE