{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-operating-licence-and-single-machine-permit-fees-regulations-2017/note",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-operating-licence-and-single-machine-permit-fees-regulations-2017/note.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2017/303",
  "legislation_title": "The Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) Regulations 2017",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/gambling-operating-licence-and-single-machine-permit-fees-regulations-2017",
  "path": "note",
  "kind": "note",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Explanatory note",
  "text": "(This note is not part of the Regulations)\nThese Regulations prescribe fees relating to operating licences (application, annual and other fees) and single-machine supply and maintenance permits (application fees only) issued under Parts 5 and 10 of the Gambling Act 2005 (c. 19) (“the Act”) respectively.\nThese Regulations consolidate and revoke the Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3284) (as amended, “the 2006 Regulations”), together with various instruments and part of an instrument that amended the 2006 Regulations.\nIn addition to the consolidation, these Regulations alter the existing fee regime set out in the 2006 Regulations. The way in which many operating licence fees were categorised is restructured. In addition, non-remote new casino operating licences are re-categorised according to annual gross gambling yield rather than the size of casino which the licence holder is authorised to operate. Similarly, non-remote bingo, general betting (standard), adult gaming centre and family entertainment centre operating licences are also now categorised according to annual gross gambling yield, rather than the number of premises to which the operating licence relates.\nThe changes made to the fees charged are expected to reduce overall fee income to the Gambling Commission by ten per cent. There are around 3,000 operating licence holders. The Regulations will reduce the fees paid by around 1,900 operators and the fees paid will be unchanged for around another 1,000 operators. The fees increase for 74 operators and the rate of increase will exceed the rate of inflation as more particularly described in the Explanatory Memorandum that is published alongside these Regulations on legislation.gov.uk. The fee to accompany an application for a single-machine supply and maintenance permit is unchanged.\nFour new sub-categories of remote operating licence are introduced by the Regulations (the casino (game host), the bingo (game host), the general betting (host) (real events) and the general betting (host) (virtual events) operating licences), while others are renamed. Regulations 20 and 23 ensure that existing concessions relating to some combined licences extend as appropriate to these new licences. Regulation 35 provides for a new reduced fee payable in respect of a change of control application made in connection with a new controller in a family-owned small-scale operator.\nA number of minor changes are also made for the purposes of clarity and consistency.\nRegulations 2 and 3 define terms used in the Regulations. Regulation 3 defines units of division by which different kinds of operating licence are assigned to categories for the purpose of prescribing fees. Provision is introduced in regulation 3(3)(c) and (d) to ensure the calculation of annual gross gambling yield takes into account changes in the way that operators function. Other terms used in the Regulations are defined in the Act.\nPart 2 and Schedules 1 to 3 prescribe fees relating to non-remote operating licences. Regulation 4 sets out the different kinds of non-remote operating licences for which fees are prescribed. Six of these kinds of licence are identical to kinds set out in section 65 of the Act; the remainder are defined in regulation 2 and, in practice, have already been or will be created by the imposition of conditions attached to a licence under section 75, 77 or 78 of the Act.\nRegulation 6 and Schedule 1 set out categories for most non-remote operating licences. Each of these kinds of operating licence is now divided into alphanumeric categories by reference to a unit of division defined in regulation 3.\nRegulation 7 and Schedule 2 prescribe the application fees payable, and regulation 8 and Schedule 3 prescribe the different annual fees payable, for each category of non-remote operating licence. Regulation 8(3) provides that the first annual fee payable for such a non-remote operating licence is 75 per cent of the usual annual fee payable in respect of that licence. The first annual fee for a new non-remote casino operating licence (regulation 8(4)) and the annual fee for such a licence if it is not operational (regulation 8(5) and (6)) is 50 per cent of the annual fee for that licence.\nSeparate provision is made in Part 2 for the payment of fees relating to non-remote supplementary operating licences (regulation 5) and the Regulations also reduce the fees payable, in some circumstances, for certain non-remote general betting (standard) operating licences (regulation 9).\nPart 3 and Schedules 4 to 6 prescribe fees relating to remote operating licences. Regulation 10 sets out the different kinds of remote operating licences for which fees are prescribed. Five of these kinds of licence are identical to kinds set out in section 65 of the Act; the remainder are defined in regulation 2 and, in practice, have already been or will be created by the imposition of conditions attached to a licence under section 75, 77 or 78 of the Act.\nRegulation 11 and Schedule 4 set out categories for most remote operating licences. Each of these kinds of operating licence is now divided into alphanumeric categories by reference to a unit of division defined in regulation 3.\nRegulation 12 and Schedule 5 prescribe the application fees payable, and regulation 13 and Schedule 6 prescribe the different annual fees payable, for each category of remote operating licence. Regulation 13(3) provides that the first annual fee payable for such a remote operating licence is 75 per cent of the usual annual fee payable in respect of that licence.\nSeparate provision is made in Part 3 for the payment of fees for remote general betting (limited) operating licences (regulation 14), general betting (remote platform) operating licences (regulation 15), ancillary remote operating licences (regulation 16) and remote supplementary operating licences (regulation 17). In particular, regulation 16(2) to (8) sets out the seven different types of ancillary remote operating licence. An ancillary remote operating licence is a licence that is held by a person who also holds a specified non-remote operating licence, and which authorises that person also to engage in specified limited remote activities which are ancillary to the activities authorised by the licensee’s non-remote operating licence. Regulation 16(9) to (11) prescribes the fees payable in respect of ancillary remote operating licences.\nPart 4 of the Regulations prescribes special fees where a person applies for or holds—\nan operating licence which combines more than one type of remote operating licence or more than one type of non-remote operating licence (a “combined operating licence”).\ntwo separate operating licences, one remote and the other non-remote.\nThe fees for most combined operating licences are prescribed in regulations 19 (application fees) and 22 (annual and first annual fees).\nRegulations 20, 21, 23 and 24 prescribe the application and annual fees that are payable for the following kinds of combined operating licences—\na licence that combines at least two of a casino or bingo (game host) operating licence and a remote general betting (host) (virtual events) operating licence,\na licence that combines at least two of a remote casino operating licence, a remote bingo operating licence and a general betting (virtual events) operating licence.\nIn addition, regulations 23(3) and 24(3) provide that the first annual fee payable for those combined operating licences is equal to 75 per cent of the annual fee payable at that time for such a licence.\nRegulations 25 and 29 reduce the application and annual fees payable when a person applies for or holds two operating licences at the same time, and regulation 31 provides that either of these provisions may apply where one or both of the operating licences is a combined licence.\nRegulation 26 provides for a reduction in the application fee payable when a person who has an application for an operating licence pending applies for a second operating licence. Similarly, regulation 27 reduces the application fee payable when a person who already holds one operating licence applies for a second.\nRegulations 28 and 30 describe circumstances in which reduced application and first annual fees are payable in respect of applications following business transfers between individuals, companies and partnerships, or where a partner takes over a partnership business as an individual as a result of the death or retirement of the only other partner.\nPart 5 of the Regulations prescribes other fees relating to operating licences. Regulations 32 to 35 are concerned with the fee payable in respect of an application to the Gambling Commission under section 102 of the Act for a determination that an operating licence issued to a company limited by shares continues to have effect following a change of corporate control (a “change application”).\nIf the person who acquires a controlling interest is not already the holder of an operating licence at the time the application is made, the fee for a change application is determined in accordance with regulation 33.\nRegulation 34 set out the fees for change applications in circumstances where the person acquiring a controlling interest already holds an operating licence at the time the application is made, or is a financial institution regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority or an equivalent regulator in an EEA State.\nRegulation 35 provides that the fee for change applications is £100 where the licensee is a private limited company and is and will remain a small scale operator, and a number of other conditions are satisfied.\nRegulation 36 prescribes the fee payable when a person applies to vary a non-remote licence under section 104 of the Act. Different fees are prescribed for applications under section 104(1)(a) to add or amend a licensed activity, under section 104(1)(a) to remove a licensed activity, under section 104(1)(b) to vary a licence by amending another detail of the licence, and under section 104(1)(c) to vary a condition attached to a licence.\nWhere an application has been made under section 104(1)(b) to vary a non-remote general betting (standard) operating licence or a non-remote general betting (limited) operating licence, such a fee is not payable in respect of any application to vary a general betting (remote platform) operating licence to the same extent (regulation 36(4)). Similarly, a fee is no longer payable to vary a licence by amending another detail of the licence if the application is concerned only with an individual’s change of name (regulation 36(5)).\nRegulation 37 prescribes the fee payable if a person applies to vary a remote licence under section 104 of the Act by adding a licensed activity, and the resulting combined remote operating licence would be one to which regulation 20 or 21 would apply. In addition, if such an application also comprises an application under section 104(1)(c) to vary a condition attached to the licence which, if granted, would either bring the licence within a new category (in accordance with regulation 11) or otherwise permit the licensee to increase or decrease its annual gross gambling yield, the fee for the part of that application which is made under section 104(1)(c) is £25.\nRegulation 38 prescribes the maximum fee payable for issuing a copy of an operating licence.\nRegulation 39 prescribes that the first annual fee for a new casino operating licence must be paid within 6 months of the date on which that licence was issued. For all other operating licences, the first annual fee must be paid within 30 days of the date on which the licence was issued (section 100(1)(a) of the Act).\nRegulation 40 prescribes the fee payable on application for a single-machine supply and maintenance permit under section 250 of the Act.\nRegulation 41 revokes the 2006 Regulations, as well as instruments amending those Regulations to the extent specified in Schedule 7.\nThe Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside the Regulations on legislation.gov.uk.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/303/note",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T23:13:47.336258+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}