Gambling safeguarding guidance for premises

To prevent children and young people accessing adult gambling activities stringent safeguarding measures should be in place, such as:

• Challenge 21 scheme operated by all door and bar staff and only recognised proof of age accepted (for example photo driving licence or passport; PASS cards)
• all points of entry monitored by security staff and or CCTV
• signage prominently displayed at all points of entry regarding the prohibition of under 18's
• signage displayed on machines highlighting age restrictions
• signage prominently displayed in bar areas regarding the law and the sale of alcohol
• operate a membership scheme
• all staff trained to be vigilant and respond if a child gains illegal access to premises

If your premises offers a range of gambling activities (for example a regional casino, a licensed family entertainment centre, bingo premises or if you offer gaming machines in category C or above) you must operate systems to ensure that under 18's are prevented from accessing areas where adult activities such as betting, or high stakes gambling take place or where adult gaming machines are located.

The measures set out above should be used to help the public clearly identify in which areas children are prohibited. If your premises offer a variety of activities, you may also need to operate the following systems:

• designate family-friendly areas using physical barriers or cordons to segregate these from restricted areas
• points of access / egress to be located for easy supervision by staff and regularly monitored
• signage displayed to indicate access rules
• signage to remind parents/adults of their responsibilities
• use the Challenge 21 scheme
• the employment of children and young people

The Gambling Act 2005 does not prohibit the employment of children and young people at some premises. However, it does restrict the type of tasks and areas to which children and young people may have access and it is important that you comply with these restrictions as failure to do so may result in you, or your employee, committing an offence.

For example, it is an offence to employ children and young people to provide facilities for gambling or to perform a function in relation to a gaming machine at any time. Children should not be exposed to gambling as they carry out their employment functions. There are also restrictions on the employment of children, or children involved in the provision of commercial entertainment, under local Bylaws and under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963.