Licensed premises gaming machine permits
The licence holder of licensed premises must apply for a gaming machine permit if they wish to have three or more gaming machines on the premises.
If you only intend to provide one or two gaming machines, it might be more suitable to notify us of them.
Who can use this service?
- Licence holders of a premises that is licensed to supply alcohol, for consumption on those premises.
- Licence holders of a premises that contains a bar.
- Licence holders of a premises that is not subject to any licence conditions limiting the supply of alcohol to people having meals on the premises.
Download and complete
Applications for permits can only be made by the holder of the premises licence for the premises to which the application relates. All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
Licensed premises gaming machine permit application form (PDF, 231KB)
Applicants should read the 'licensed premises gaming machine permits and notifications' section from our Statement of Principles for more information on our expectations of permit holders.
Please send the completed application form to us, together with a payment of £50. Our address is on the form.
If we have concerns about your application, we will advise you of this and give you an opportunity to make representations. After considering any representations you make, we will decide whether to:
- grant your application
- grant a smaller number of machines or a different category than had been sought
- refuse your application altogether.
Where applications are refused, or granted for a smaller number or different category, there will be a right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of notification of the refusal.
No further conditions can be attached to a permit beyond the statutory condition that is automatically attached. This requires the holder to comply with the Gambling Commission's Code of Practice for clubs and licensed premises.
Maintaining your permit
Licensed premises gaming machine permits are valid for an unlimited duration. However, they will lapse if the holder ceases to hold the alcohol licence, or if the alcohol licence itself lapses.
The annual fee is payable for all licensed premises gaming machine permits. The first fee becomes due 30 days after the permit was granted, and then on the anniversary of the grant. We may revoke a permit if the annual fee is not paid.
The original permit must be kept on the premises to which it relates, and produced for inspection if requested by a police officer, a Gambling Commission enforcement officer, or an authorised Lambeth Council officer. If lost, stolen or damaged, a duplicate permit can be obtained from the council, but a fee will be payable for this. It will also be necessary to report lost or stolen permits to the police.
If control of the premises and the alcohol licence changes, the permit must be transferred to the new licence holder. The same application form available above can be used for this.
The permit can be varied to change the number or category of authorised machines. You can make a variation application using the same form above.
Permits can be surrendered if no longer required, by returning the original permit to the council with a note explaining this.
The licensing authority may revoke a permit if it is believed that:
- gaming has taken place on premises in breach of a permit
- the premises are mainly used for making gaming machines available
- allowing the permit to continue to have effect would not be consistent with the licensing objectives
- a gambling-related offence has been committed on the premises.