Reviewing our gambling policy

Overview

We are gathering views on our draft Statement of Policy and Principles 2025-2027, which regulates gambling in Kingston. 

Under the Gambling Act 2005, the council is required to have a policy which sets out how licensed businesses are regulated including betting shops, bingo halls and amusement arcades, the provision of gaming machines in clubs and alcohol licensed premises and registration for small society lotteries, raffles and prize draws.

We are not responsible for the National Lottery or for any form of online gambling. These activities are regulated by the Gambling Commission. 

At least every three years, we must review and adopt a Statement of Policy and Principles that details how we will undertake our licensing functions. This statement will form the basis of the council’s decision-making for licensing gambling premises.

The draft statement promotes the three licensing objectives:

• To ensure gambling is kept free from crime and disorder.
• To ensure gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
• To protect children and vulnerable adults.

We have adopted a no casino policy in Kingston, which is included in the statement of policy and principles. In addition we have also published a Local Area Profile highlighting the key characteristics for consideration by proposed operators when they are preparing an application and their local area risk assessments.

Following the publication of an updated suicide prevention strategy for Kingston we are proposing to add a new section to the statement strongly recommending applicants and licence holders ensure all staff serving and monitoring customers  undertake suicide awareness training (See Section 63). This will ensure existing and new licence holders take the issue into consideration when developing their local area risk assessment.

The draft statement includes no other major changes to the current licensing policy. 

You can view and read the draft policy statement below or download the PDF at the bottom of this page. Changes in this draft are shown in blue text. The Local Area profile is also available to review.

How to get in touch with us

If you have any queries, comments or would like a copy of this survey in another language or format, please get in touch with by emailing licensing@kingston.gov.uk or calling the council’s contact centre on 020 8547 5000 and asking for a member of the Licensing Team to call you back.

What happens next