Sunday, November 19, 2006

Government proposals for gambling fees for premises and permits have been
slammed by trade officials as "outrageous". The Department for Culture Media
and Sport (DCMS) has published its long-awaited consultation on the fees,
which detailed a number of gambling price hikes. Business In Sport and
Leisure, an umbrella group which represents over 100 private sector
companies in the sport, hospitality and leisure industry, has criticised the
proposals, and warned that many British businesses may disappear as a
result. Brigid Simmonds, BISL chief executive, said: "DCMS has proposed
quite ridiculous fees for premises licences and gaming permits under the
Gambling Act 2005. Moreover, unlike liquor licensing, where local
authorities have sole responsibility for a bar or pub in terms of licensing,
responsibility for gambling is shared with the Gambling Commission. "To
charge small, family entertainment centres of even adult gaming centres over
£1,000 for the local authority to ensure that their premises is in full
working order is just a licence for local authorities to make money."