1.1 This document is the statement of principles (hereafter referred to as “the Gambling Policy”) approved by the London Borough of Bexley (hereafter referred to as “the Council”) in accordance with section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (hereafter referred to as “the Act”).

1.2 The purpose of the Gambling Policy is to set out the principles the Council will generally apply in exercising their function under the Act as a licensing authority. The aim of the Gambling Policy is to permit the use of premises for gambling as set out in section 153 of the Act whilst promoting the three licensing objectives, which are:

• preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
• ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

1.3 The Borough of Bexley is one of thirty-two London Boroughs, which, together with the City of London Corporation, make up the area of Greater London. The London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and the Kent Boroughs of Dartford and Sevenoaks border Bexley. The River Thames runs along the Borough boundary for five miles to the North. As an outer London Borough, Bexley offers the very best of town and country. Within its boundaries are award winning parks and open spaces, historic houses and attractive waterways. Bexley has some of the most affordable housing in London, good schools and diverse neighbourhoods ranging from the urban to the rural. Within Bexley lies Bexleyheath, one of South London’s most successful and lively town centres, together with a number of smaller thriving centres. Bexley has easy access to the facilities of central London, to major shopping centres at Bluewater and Lakeside and to the beauty of rural Kent as well as the international rail terminal at Ashford, the Channel Ports and Tunnel.

1.4 A map of the London Borough of Bexley is available at Annex A to the Gambling Policy.

1.5 The Gambling Policy was endorsed by the Council and is effective between 31 January 2025 and 30 January 2028.

1.6 Notice of the Council’s intention to publish the Gambling Policy was given via the Council’s website and in a local newspaper circulating in the area covered by the Gambling Policy. The Gambling Policy was published one month prior to the date it became effective.

1.7 During this three-year period that the Gambling Policy is in force it will be kept under review. Any revision will be the subject of further consultation and approval by the Council. Notification of any revision will be advertised and published in a similar way to the manner in which the initial Gambling Policy was.

1.8 Copies of the Gambling Policy are available via the Council’s website, in the reception area of the main Council Civic Offices and in Bexley’s public libraries. A copy will be sent to any person on request to the Licensing Partnership (section 16).