The Licensing Sub-Committee A of Woking Borough Council was scheduled to convene on 8 September 2025, to address both standard procedural matters and a significant licensing application. The meeting was set to include the election of a chair and vice-chair, alongside the review of minutes from a previous session. Substantively, the committee was to consider an application for a new Adult Gaming Centre premises licence for In2win Casino Games.

In2win Casino Games - 20 Chertsey Road, Woking

The primary focus of the meeting was to be the consideration of a new premises licence application submitted by Silverplay Limited, for an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) to be named In2win Casino Games, located at 20 Chertsey Road in Woking. According to the report pack, the application seeks permission for the operation of a 24-hour gaming centre on the first two floors of the building.

The report pack notes that Silverplay Limited has an operating licence issued by the Gambling Commission, and that the applicant had requested that, should the Sub-Committee grant the application, it also makes a direction under Section 208(2) of the Gambling Act 2005, allowing the applicant to commence trading pending any appeal.

Objections

The application has received a representation from Public Health Surrey, which objects to the application. According to the report pack:

Public Health Surrey has raised concerns about the proposed Adult Gaming Centre due to its location in a highly deprived part of Woking, where residents especially children and vulnerable groups face increased risks from gambling.

The report pack notes that although Local Public Health Departments are not responsible authorities under the Gambling Act 2005, the licensing authority will seek advice from the local Public Health team.

The report pack includes a copy of the objection from Public Health Surrey, which states that the proposed site is in the Key Neighbourhood / Ward of Canalside, which it says is among the 20% most deprived areas in England. It also notes that Woking has a higher estimated percentage of people experiencing gambling harm (4.6%) than the GB average (2.9%).

Public Health Surrey suggests that if the licence is not rejected, further consideration be given to:

• Limiting operating hours
• No digital gambling advertising and sponsorship including the shop frontage to reduce exposure of young and vulnerable people to gambling.
• No illumination of the signage on the shop frontage.

The applicant, via Debbie Bollard, Licensing Consultant at Hough & Bollard Ltd, responded to the representation from Public Health Surrey, stating that the area that Silverplay Limited intends to open the Premises is not in Woking 004F but in Woking 008A, an area considered to have been gentrified. The response also notes that the most recent Gambling Commission research found that problem gambling rates remain statistically stable (between 0.3 0.7%).

Planning Considerations

The report pack notes that the premises currently have lawful use as a restaurant (Class E), and that a change to an Adult Gaming Centre (sui generis use) would require planning permission. It also notes that the premises is a Locally Listed building within a Conservation Area, and strict controls would apply to any proposed alterations to the shop frontage and signage.

The report pack clarifies that planning and licensing are separate regulatory regimes and that the Licensing Committee must assess the application based solely on the licensing objectives.

Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles

The report pack refers to the Woking Borough Council Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles, which sets out the council's considerations in relation to applications made under the Gambling Act. The report pack notes that the Statement of Principles was revised in 2018, but there is no record that this version was formally published, and so the report refers to the 2016–2018 Statement of Principles, which remains publicly accessible.

The report pack advises that members assign limited weight to the existing version, as it falls outside the statutory review period.

Licensing Objectives and Considerations

The report pack states that the Sub-Committee is obliged to determine this application with a view to promoting the 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, and
• protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The report pack notes a number of implications for the council associated with determining the application, including the risk of a challenge via an appeal to the Magistrates' Court.

Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee A held on 9 December 2024

The report pack included the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee A meeting held on 9 December 2024. The minutes record that the Sub-Committee approved an application for a premises licence for Buteco Do Gordinho, subject to the finalisation of amendments to the Premises Licence and the addition of proposed conditions.