A consultation has started on a new version of Torbay Council's Gambling Policy.

The Council is the Licensing Authority for the area and grants premises licences to operators who are licensed by the Gambling Commission.

These include bingo operators, betting shops, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres.

The process is governed by the Council's Gambling Policy, also known as the Statement of Principles.

It sets out the principles we apply when carrying out our work under the Gambling Act 2005.

The policy must be reviewed every three years. The Council is now consulting on a new policy to cover from 31 January 2025 to 30 January 2028.

The proposed changes include adding information on:

• the application process
• the Council’s routine inspections
• gambling prevalence and social responsibility
• vessels and vehicle licences
• machine permits
• small society lotteries
• unlicensed family entertainment centres
• child sexual exploitation.

The information regarding small casinos has been removed. This follows the reallocation of the unused small casino licence by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in September 2023. 

As the permission to issue a small casino premises licence had not been used since it was granted in 2008, the Secretary of State reallocated the licence to another area. 

A copy of the new policy highlighting the proposed changes and a survey for people to give their views are on Torbay Council's consultation website.

The consultation runs for six weeks from Friday 12 July to Friday 23 August 2024. The responses will be considered by the Council's licensing team as part of the policy review.

Cllr Hayley Tranter, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities, said: "The Gambling Policy is an important document which provides information about how we work.

"I urge anyone with an interest to have a look at the proposed changes and give us your feedback. This will be taken into account as we shape the new policy."

Paper copies of the survey are available in libraries in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

There is more information about the Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) on the Torbay Council website.