Explanatory Notes

Gambling Act 2005

2005 CHAPTER 19

7 April 2005

Territorial Extent

Territorial limits – vessels and aircraft

Schedule 6: Exchange of information: persons and bodies

Part Four: Protection of Children and Young Persons
Sections 47 & 49: Invitation to enter premises; young persons entering premises

178.Children and young persons may not enter a casino, a betting shop or an adult gaming centre at any time when facilities for gambling are being provided on the premises in reliance on the relevant premises licence. This is subject to the exception that children and young persons may enter the non-gambling area of a regional casino, but they may not enter the gambling area.

179.Under Part 8, a betting premises licence for a track is subject to the condition that children and young persons are excluded from any area where a Category C gaming machine is available for use or any area where facilities for betting are provided. However, the latter restriction does not apply in the case of a dog-race track or a horse-race course on any day on which racing takes place (see section 182).

180.Children are equally not permitted to enter areas of family entertainment centres where Category C gaming machines are available for use.

181.Any person who invites a child or young person to enter these premises, or the parts of the premises described above, commits an offence. Where a young person enters these areas, he too commits an offence.

182.As a consequence of these provisions, a person of any age may enter bingo premises, the betting areas of a horse racecourse or a greyhound track on days on which races are being run, or the non-gambling area of a regional casino. A person of any age may also enter any area of a family entertainment centre where no Category C gaming machines are provided at that place. This does not mean that they can necessarily partake in any gambling on the premises, see sections 46 and 48.