The Gambling Commission is looking to appeal the First-Tier Tribunal’s decision to allow Greene King a bingo licence, in order to stop commercial gambling “spreading to pubs”.
Earlier this month Judge NJ Warren quashed the Gambling Commission’s refusal to allow the pub company a bingo licence and remitted the matter back to the Commission with a direction that the application should be granted – a ruling which could open the door for larger pubcos to operate commercial bingo.
However, the Gambling Commission has today announced that it is “seeking permission” to appeal the decision, claiming that the ruling “appears to handicap the Commission in doing what it was set up to do – that is, react to new developments and protect the vulnerable.”
A spokesman added: “We are clear, and this view is strongly supported by the government, that commercial betting, gaming and bingo and any associated high stakes and prize machines should be provided only in separate premises licensed for that specific purpose – premises that adults make a deliberate choice to visit in order to gamble.
“A judgment from the Upper Tribunal should hopefully clarify what we can and can’t do by way of operating licence conditions.
“Meanwhile, we are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to see how we can both use our various powers to keep commercial gambling in dedicated licensed premises and stop it spreading to pubs.”
