§ 63 — Application for approval of gambling venue

63.—(1) An application for approval of any place or premises as an approved gambling venue for a licensee or an applicant for a licence to provide a gambling service must —(a)

be made to the Authority in the form and manner that the Authority may determine; and

(b)

be accompanied by an application fee, if prescribed.

(2) An application for approval of any place or premises as an approved gambling venue must state —(a)

the name, the residential or business address of each proprietor of the place or premises;

(b)

the name (if any) and the address of the premises;

(c)

whether the person applying for approval is a licensee or an applicant for a licence;

(d)

whether the written permission or authorisation required by the Planning Act 1998 for the development of the premises has been granted or deemed granted;

(e)

where any part of the gambling service to be provided at the place or premises involves gaming machines —(i)

the location of the gaming machine room within the place or premises; and

(ii)

the number of gaming machines intended to be installed in the gaming machine room;

(f)

the hours of gambling proposed at the place or premises;

(g)

the prescribed particulars and information; and

(h)

such other additional information that the Authority requires to decide on the application in the particular case.

(3) If the Authority receives an application for approval of any place or premises as an approved gambling venue for a licensee to provide a gambling service, the Authority may carry out, or arrange to be carried out by authorised officers, such investigations and inquiries in relation to the application as the Authority considers necessary for a proper consideration of the application for approval.

(4) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of making an investigation or inquiry under subsection (3) relating to any place or premises —(a)

at any reasonable time;

(b)

after declaring his or her office and after producing his or her identification card on demand being made; and

(c)

with such assistants as may reasonably be required,

enter the place or premises and exercise any powers referred to in subsection (5).

(5) The powers for the purposes of an investigation or inquiry under subsection (4) are —(a)

to inspect the place or premises and any plant, equipment, conveyance or other thing at the place or premises;

(b)

to photograph or film, or make audio recordings or make sketches of, any part of the place or premises or anything at the place or premises;

(c)

to inspect and make copies of, or take extracts from (without fee or reward) any document kept at the place or premises;

(d)

to take any document or any other thing at the place or premises; and

(e)

to ask any individual at the place or premises —(i)

to answer a question to the best of that individual’s knowledge, information and belief; or

(ii)

to take reasonable steps to provide information or produce a document.

(6) A power under subsection (5)(a), (b), (c) or (d) is limited to a document or thing that is used or likely to be used in the management or operation of the place or premises as a gambling venue.

(7) Without limiting subsection (5), an authorised officer exercising functions under that subsection may —(a)

be accompanied by one or more police officers; and

(b)

open any ground or wall and remove any flooring or wall covering, and take such measures as may be necessary to ascertain the character and condition of the place or premises and of any pipe, sewer, drain, wire or fitting.

(8) The Authority may refuse to consider an application for or to renew an approval of any gambling venue —(a)

that is incomplete or not made in accordance with this section; or

(b)

where an investigation or inquiry mentioned in subsection (3) in relation to the application is refused by the applicant.

—(1) An application for approval of any place or premises as an approved gambling venue for a licensee or an applicant for a licence to provide a gambling service must —(a)

be made to the Authority in the form and manner that the Authority may determine; and

(b)

be accompanied by an application fee, if prescribed.

(2) An application for approval of any place or premises as an approved gambling venue must state —(a)

the name, the residential or business address of each proprietor of the place or premises;

(b)

the name (if any) and the address of the premises;

(c)

whether the person applying for approval is a licensee or an applicant for a licence;

(d)

whether the written permission or authorisation required by the Planning Act 1998 for the development of the premises has been granted or deemed granted;

(e)

where any part of the gambling service to be provided at the place or premises involves gaming machines —(i)

the location of the gaming machine room within the place or premises; and

(ii)

the number of gaming machines intended to be installed in the gaming machine room;

(f)

the hours of gambling proposed at the place or premises;

(g)

the prescribed particulars and information; and

(h)

such other additional information that the Authority requires to decide on the application in the particular case.

(3) If the Authority receives an application for approval of any place or premises as an approved gambling venue for a licensee to provide a gambling service, the Authority may carry out, or arrange to be carried out by authorised officers, such investigations and inquiries in relation to the application as the Authority considers necessary for a proper consideration of the application for approval.

(4) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of making an investigation or inquiry under subsection (3) relating to any place or premises —(a)

at any reasonable time;

(b)

after declaring his or her office and after producing his or her identification card on demand being made; and

(c)

with such assistants as may reasonably be required,

enter the place or premises and exercise any powers referred to in subsection (5).

(5) The powers for the purposes of an investigation or inquiry under subsection (4) are —(a)

to inspect the place or premises and any plant, equipment, conveyance or other thing at the place or premises;

(b)

to photograph or film, or make audio recordings or make sketches of, any part of the place or premises or anything at the place or premises;

(c)

to inspect and make copies of, or take extracts from (without fee or reward) any document kept at the place or premises;

(d)

to take any document or any other thing at the place or premises; and

(e)

to ask any individual at the place or premises —(i)

to answer a question to the best of that individual’s knowledge, information and belief; or

(ii)

to take reasonable steps to provide information or produce a document.

(6) A power under subsection (5)(a), (b), (c) or (d) is limited to a document or thing that is used or likely to be used in the management or operation of the place or premises as a gambling venue.

(7) Without limiting subsection (5), an authorised officer exercising functions under that subsection may —(a)

be accompanied by one or more police officers; and

(b)

open any ground or wall and remove any flooring or wall covering, and take such measures as may be necessary to ascertain the character and condition of the place or premises and of any pipe, sewer, drain, wire or fitting.

(8) The Authority may refuse to consider an application for or to renew an approval of any gambling venue —(a)

that is incomplete or not made in accordance with this section; or

(b)

where an investigation or inquiry mentioned in subsection (3) in relation to the application is refused by the applicant.