Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Betting

    1. General restrictions on betting

      1. 1. Restriction on use of premises for betting transactions with persons resorting thereto.

      2. 2. Restriction on bookmaking except under bookmaker’s permit.

      3. 3. Agent of bookmaker or Totalisator Board to be authorised and registered.

      4. 4. Restriction of pool betting.

      5. 5. Restriction of betting on tracks.

      6. 6. Restriction of bookmaking on tracks.

      7. 7.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      8. 8. Prohibition of betting in streets and public places.

    2. Licensed betting offices

      1. 9. Betting office licences and betting agency permits.

      2. 10. Conduct of licensed betting offices.

      3. 10A. Cancellation of betting office licence

    3. Special provisions with respect to bookmaker’s and betting agency permits

      1. 11. Cancellation of and disqualification for bookmaker’s or betting agency permit.

    4. The Totalisator Board and pool betting on horse races

      1. 12. Horserace Totalisator Board.

      2. 13. Approval of horse racecourses by Totalisator Board.

      3. 14. Functions of Totalisator Board with respect to betting on horse races.

      4. 15. Additional powers and duties of Totalisator Board.

    5. Special provisions with respect to licensed tracks

      1. 16. Totalisators on licensed tracks.

      2. 16A. Licensing of inter-track betting schemes.

      3. 17. Special rights of occupier of licensed track where totalisator is operated.

      4. 18. Charges to bookmakers on licensed tracks.

      5. 19. Occupiers of licensed tracks not to have an interest in bookmaking thereon.

      6. 20. Saving for right of occupier of licensed track to prohibit betting.

    6. Special provisions with respect to young persons

      1. 21. Betting with young persons.

      2. 22. Betting circulars not to be sent to young persons.

    7. Power of entry on tracks

      1. 23. Power of entry on tracks.

    8. Contributions for benefit of horse racing by bookmakers and Totalisator Board

      1. 24. Horserace Betting Levy Board.

      2. 25. General powers and duties of Levy Board.

      3. 26. Bookmakers’ Committee.

      4. 27. Bookmakers’ levy schemes.

      5. 28. Assessment of or exemption from bookmakers’ levy.

      6. 29. Levy appeal tribunals.

      7. 30. Contributions by Totalisator Board.

    9. Accounts and reports of Levy Board and Totalisator Board

      1. 31. Accounts of, and reports by, Levy Board and Totalisator Board.

    10. Betting workers: Sunday working

      1. 31A. Rights of betting workers as respects Sunday working.

  3. Part II Gaming

    1. 32—39.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. 40. References in other Acts to gaming or unlawful games.

  4. Part III

    1. 41—47.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  5. Part IV

    1. 48—50.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  6. Part V General

    1. 51. Search warrants.

    2. 52. Penalties and forfeitures.

    3. 53. Offences by bodies corporate.

    4. 54.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    5. 55. Interpretation, etc.—general.

    6. 56. Consequential amendments in other Acts.

    7. 57. Repeals and savings.

    8. 58. Short title, extent and commencement.

  7. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Bookmaker’s Permits, Betting Agency Permits and Betting Office Licences

      1. Introductory

        1. 1.The authority responsible for the grant or renewal of bookmaker’s...

        2. 2.In this Schedule, the following expressions have the following meanings...

      2. Applications for grant of permit or licence

        1. 3.Each appropriate authority shall for each year fix a day...

        2. 4.In addition to any meeting on a day fixed in...

        3. 5.Any such application as aforesaid may be made at any...

        4. 6.Not later than fourteen days after the making of any...

        5. 7.Not later than seven days after the publication of the...

      3. Applications for renewal of permit or licence

        1. 8.Each appropriate authority, in each year in which any application...

        2. 9.Any application for the renewal of such a permit or...

        3. 10.Where in any year, by reason of a change in...

      4. Proceedings before appropriate authority

        1. 11.On any application for the grant or renewal of a...

        2. 12.Where in the case of an application for the grant...

        3. 13.An appropriate authority may from time to time adjourn the...

        4. 14.On the consideration of any application for the grant or...

      5. Grounds for refusal to grant or renew bookmaker’s or betting agency permit

        1. 15.The appropriate authority shall refuse any application for the grant...

        2. 16.(1) In the case of an application for the grant...

        3. 17.In the case of an application for the grant or...

        4. 18.For the purposes of paragraph 16 or 17 of this...

        5. 18A.(1) In the case of an application for the renewal...

      6. Grounds for refusal to grant or renew betting office licence

        1. 19.In the case of an application for the grant or...

      7. Grant or renewal of permit or licence

        1. 20.(1) Save as provided by paragraphs 15 to 19 of...

        2. 20A.Unopposed applications for renewal

      8. Appeals against refusals in England

        1. 21.(1) Where an appropriate authority in England refuse an application...

        2. 22.. . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 23.(1) Where, in the case of an appeal under paragraph...

      9. Appeals against refusals in Scotland

        1. 24.(1) Where an appropriate authority in Scotland refuse any application...

      10. Notification of change in directors during currency of bookmaker’s permit

        1. 25.If, where the holder of a bookmaker’s permit is a...

        2. 25A.Notification of change of relevant premises during currency of permit

      11. Cancellation of bookmaker’s permit by appropriate authority

        1. 26.If in the case of any bookmaker’s permit an application...

        2. 27.(1) Where an application for the cancellation of a permit...

        3. 28.(1) Where the appropriate authority decide to forfeit and cancel...

        4. 28A.Cancellation of betting office licence by appropriate authority

        5. 28B.(1) This paragraph applies where under paragraph 28A of this...

        6. 28C.(1) Where on an application under paragraph 28A of this...

        7. 28D.(1) Where on an application under paragraph 28A of this...

      12. Duration of permit or licence

        1. 29.(1) A bookmaker’s permit, betting agency permit or betting office...

        2. 30.Where application for the renewal of such a permit or...

        3. 31.Where the appropriate authority refuse to renew any such permit...

        4. 32.A betting office licence held by the holder of a...

        5. 33.In the event of the death of the holder of...

      13. Registers of permits and licences

        1. 34.The proper officer of each appropriate authority shall keep registers...

      14. Service of documents

        1. 35.Any provision of this Schedule requiring any notice or other...

      15. Provision of information

        1. 36.The proper officer of each appropriate authority shall send to...

        2. 37.(1) The proper officer of any appropriate authority shall furnish...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Registered Pool Promoters

      1. Registering authorities

        1. 1.(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, each of...

        2. 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 3.(1) . . . . . . . . ....

      2. Interpretation

        1. 4.(1) In relation to any person who carried on or...

      3. Registration of pool promoters

        1. 5.(1) If any person makes an application to the registering...

        2. 6.Where the registration of any person has been refused or...

        3. 7.Where the registration of any person has been refused or...

        4. 8.Where the registering authority revoke a registration under paragraph 5...

        5. 9.If a registered pool promoter dies, his registration shall, for...

      4. Fees in respect of registration

        1. 10.On 1st January in each year the appropriate continuation fee...

        2. 11.For the purposes of paragraphs 5 and 10 of this...

      5. Appointment of accountant by registering authority

        1. 12.(1) The registering authority shall, in the case of each...

      6. Conduct of registered pool promoter’s business

        1. 13.Subject to paragraphs 14 to 19 of this Schedule, the...

        2. 13A.(1) In any competition the total amount payable by way...

        3. 14.(1) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 13(d) or (e) or 13A...

        4. 14A.(1) Subject to any directions under paragraph 14B of this...

        5. 14B.(1) The Secretary of State may direct that any provision...

        6. 15.Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 13(d) or (e) or 13A of...

        7. 16.Nothing in paragraph 13(b) of this Schedule shall be construed...

        8. 17.Nothing in paragraph 13(f) of this Schedule shall be construed...

        9. 18.Nothing in paragraphs 13 to 17 of this Schedule shall...

        10. 19.Where two or more competitions of the same registered pool...

      7. Information to be given by promoters

        1. 20.(1) As soon as may be after the events to...

        2. 21.(1) Every registered pool promoter shall, not more than twenty-one...

        3. 22.The statements and announcements referred to in paragraphs 20 and...

        4. 23.(1) In August in each year every registered pool promoter...

        5. 24.(1) Where a registered pool promoter is a company to...

      8. Duties and powers of the accountant

        1. 25.The accountant shall— (a) examine all statements submitted to him...

        2. 26.The accountant and any servant of his authorised in that...

        3. 27.(1) If at any time the accountant has cause to...

        4. 28.Paragraphs 20 to 27 of this Schedule shall apply in...

      9. Enforcement

        1. 29.(1) Any person who— (a) obstructs the accountant or any...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Licensing of Tracks for Betting

      1. Licensing authorities and interpretation

        1. 1.Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3Paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to...

        2. 2.In this Schedule, except where the context otherwise requires—

      2. Applications for licences

        1. 3.An application for the grant of a track betting licence...

        2. 4.Each licensing authority may from time to time fix dates...

        3. 5.(1) No application for a track betting licence shall be...

        4. 6.(1) Upon the consideration by the licensing authority of an...

      3. Grant or refusal of licence

        1. 7.(1) The provisions of this paragraph shall have effect with...

      4. Duration and transfer of licences

        1. 8.A track betting licence shall, unless cancelled under paragraph 10...

        2. 9.Where in the case of any track the licensing authority...

        3. 10.The licensing authority by whom any track betting licence for...

        4. 11.In the event of the death of the holder of...

      5. Fees in respect of licences

        1. 12.(1) In respect of any application for a track betting...

      6. Revocation of licence and appeal therefrom

        1. 13.(1) At any time while a track betting licence is...

        2. 14, 15.. . . . . . . . . ....

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Rules for Licensed Betting Offices

      1. 1.The licensed premises shall be closed throughout Good Friday and...

      2. 2.No person who is apparently under the age of eighteen...

      3. 3.The licensee— (a) shall display his betting office licence on...

      4. 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      5. 5.. . . . . . . . . ....

      6. 6.Except for the licensee and any servant or agent of...

      7. 7.(1) Except as permitted by sub-paragraph (2) or (3) below,...

      8. 8.(1) No apparatus for making information or other material available...

      9. 9.No music, dancing or other entertainment shall be provided or...

      10. 10.(1) Except as permitted by this paragraph, no refreshments shall...

      11. 10A.Machines to which Part III of the Gaming Act 1968...

      12. 10B.Publications may be sold on the licensed premises, but only...

      13. 10C.The licensed premises may be used for—

      14. 11.Paragraphs 1 and 4 above shall be construed, subject to...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      Totalisators on Dog Racecourses

      1. 1.The totalisator shall comply with the prescribed conditions.

      2. 2.The person, whether the occupier of the track or a...

      3. 3.The operator shall, before receiving any bets in connection with...

      4. 4.The operator shall, in the case of any bets made...

      5. 4A.The terms on which the operator invites persons to bet...

      6. 4B.Where, in accordance with such a condition as is mentioned...

      7. 4C.(1) This paragraph applies where the amount payable in respect...

      8. 5.Where the amount payable in respect of each betting unit...

      9. 6.The terms on which the operator invites persons to bet...

      10. 7.The licensing authority, that is to say, the authority by...

      11. 8.. . . The accountant and the technical adviser shall...

      12. 9.The totalisator shall not be operated on any day unless...

      13. 10.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      14. 10A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      15. 11.(1) The accountant, the technical adviser and their respective servants...

      16. 12.(1) The operator shall, within seven days after the close...

      17. 13.The accountant shall examine the statements of account submitted to...

      18. 14.The accountant shall retain for a period of two years...

      19. 15.Without prejudice to his duties under the foregoing paragraphs, the...

      20. 16.Where by virtue of paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to...

      21. 17.Without prejudice to paragraph 11(2) of this Schedule, if the...

      22. 18.(1) In relation to the operation of the totalisator for...

    6. SCHEDULE 5A

      Rights of Betting Workers as Respects Sunday Working

      1. General interpretation

        1. 1.(1) In this Schedule, except where a contrary intention appears—...

      2. Meaning of “protected betting worker”

        1. 2.(1) Subject to paragraph 3 below, a betting worker is...

        2. 3.(1) A betting worker is not a protected betting worker...

      3. Notice of objection to Sunday working

        1. 4.(1) This paragraph applies to any betting worker who, under...

      4. Meaning of “opted-out betting worker”

        1. 5.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (5) below, a betting worker is...

      5. Meaning of “notice period”

        1. 6.In this Schedule “notice period”, in relation to an opted-out...

      6. Right not to be dismissed for refusing Sunday work

        1. 7.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, the dismissal of a...

        2. 8.(1) Where the reason or principal reason for the dismissal...

      7. Exclusion of section 64(1) of Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978

        1. 9.Section 54 of the 1978 Act (right of employee not...

      8. Right not to suffer detriment for refusing Sunday work

        1. 10.(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (4) below, a protected...

      9. Employer’s duty to give explanatory statement

        1. 11.(1) Where a person becomes a betting worker to whom...

      10. Effect of rights on contracts of employment

        1. 12.(1) Any contract of employment under which a betting worker...

        2. 13.(1) Where a betting worker gives his employer an opting-out...

        3. 14.If— (a) under the contract of employment under which a...

        4. 15.(1) If— (a) under the contract of employment under which...

      11. Proceedings for contravention of paragraph 10

        1. 16.Sections 22B and 22C of the 1978 Act (which relate...

      12. Restrictions on contracting out of Schedule

        1. 17.(1) Any provision in an agreement (whether a contract of...

      13. Transitional modifications relating to maternity cases

        1. 18.(1) Where— (a) an employee exercises a right to return...

      14. Dismissal on grounds of assertion of statutory right

        1. 19.In section 60A of the 1978 Act (dismissal on grounds...

      15. Dismissal procedures agreements

        1. 20.In section 65 of the 1978 Act (exclusion in respect...

      16. Conciliation

        1. 21.In section 133 of the 1978 Act (general provisions as...

      17. Application of certain other provisions of 1978 Act

        1. 22.In the following provisions of the 1978 Act— section 129...

    7. SCHEDULE 5ZA

      LICENSING OF INTER-TRACK BETTING SCHEMES

      1. Licensing authorities

        1. 1.Each of the following councils shall be the licensing authority...

      2. Applications

        1. 2.(1) An application for a scheme licence shall be made—...

      3. Proceedings before the licensing authority

        1. 3.(1) A licensing authority may only consider an application for...

      4. Grant or refusal

        1. 4.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph and paragraph...

        2. 5.For the purposes of paragraph 4(1)(c) of this Schedule, an...

        3. 6.(1) In relation to a renewal application, paragraph 4 of...

      5. Duration

        1. 7.(1) A scheme licence shall continue in force for a...

      6. Scheme accountant and scheme technical adviser

        1. 8.(1) A licensing authority, in the case of each inter-track...

        2. 9.(1) A scheme accountant for an inter-track betting scheme shall...

      7. Notification of change in licensee’s directors

        1. 10.If, where the holder of a scheme licence is a...

      8. Revocation

        1. 11.(1) The licensing authority by whom a scheme licence was...

        2. 12.If a licensing authority revoke a scheme licence, they shall...

      9. Cancellation

        1. 13.(1) The licensing authority by whom a scheme licence was...

      10. Appeals

        1. 14.(1) Where a licensing authority in England and Wales—

        2. 15.(1) Where a licensing authority in Scotland—

        3. 16.(1) Where a licensing authority revoke a scheme licence, the...

        4. 17.(1) Where a licensing authority refuse a renewal application, the...

      11. Fees

        1. 18.(1) A person who applies for a scheme licence shall...

      12. Interpretation

        1. 19.In this Schedule— “appropriate chief officer of police”means— in relation...

    8. SCHEDULE 6

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    9. SCHEDULE 7

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    10. SCHEDULE 8

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....