Personal Management Licences

The Gambling Commission issues Personal Management Licences. Applications are submitted by the individual and must be submitted on the same day as the Operating Licence application(s) along with the supporting documentation.

Anyone applying for a Personal Management Licence must provide the following information at the time the application is filed (matters such as overseas police reports can take some time to obtain, so this must be factored into the application process):

• Details of financial assets and evidence of the source of funds
• Proof of experience in the gambling industry
• Employment history for the last 10 years
• Proof of competence and training on the 2005 Act and LCCP
• Credit Report
• Details of any investigations carried out by a regulatory body and any criminal convictions
• For UK residents a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and for overseas applicants a local police report.

The application must also specify the percentage of equity held by any of the post holders.

Small Scale Operators

For small scale operators where the qualifying positions are held by three or fewer individuals, financial declarations must be filed by the post holders (known as Annex A Declarations). If granted their names will be endorsed on the face of the Operating Licence.

Also, any person with a shareholding of 10% or more must submit an Annex A Declaration.

Where an individual ceases to occupy a specified management office a Key Event notification must be filed within five working days identifying who will cover for that role until a replacement is appointed.

If a replacement post holder does not currently hold a Personal Management Licence they need to apply for the PML before they take up their position as when a PML is granted it authorises that individual to carry out that role.

If they already hold a PML then their licence is simply linked to the company’s operating licence. Again, the appointment of a person to one of the specified management offices must be notified as a Key Event within five working days.

In the case of small-scale operators an application to vary the Operating Licence must be filed where there is a change of the holder of a qualifying position

Personal Function Licences

In the case of non-remote casinos, the following must hold a Personal Function Licence:

1. Dealer in respect of casino games
2. Cashier
3. Inspector
4. Security staff employed to watch gaming
5. Supervisor of gaming activities.

Personal Management Licence applications must be submitted on the same day as the Operating Licence application.

A personal management licence is a fixed fee. If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll need to pay the fee again. That’s why it’s important to make sure your application is right the first time around. Our experts can help you prepare your application for submission.

Yes, you’ve got 28 days from the letter of refusal to appeal a decision. The appeal will go to an independent tribunal.

Yes, the Gambling Commission will carry out an enhanced criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service if you have resided in the UK or the Isle of Man for at least two years.

In the case of overseas based individuals a local police report must be submitted with the Personal Licence application, and you should take advice as to whether you can withhold details of any spent convictions.

It’s important that you declare any offences to the Gambling Commission. This will prevent any delays to your application.