(1)  The Commission may grant a provisional venue licence to an applicant for a venue licence for licensed premises if –

(a) a venue licence was in force in respect of those licensed premises immediately before the grant of the provisional venue licence; and

(b) the person has made an application under section 36 for a venue licence in respect of those licensed premises and that application has not yet been determined by the Commission.

(2)  Subject to subsection (3) , if the Commission grants a provisional venue licence, the number of gaming machine authorities endorsed on the licence is to be –

(a) the same number of gaming machine authorities (if any) that were endorsed on the venue licence for the licensed premises immediately before the grant of the provisional venue licence; or

(b) such lesser number of gaming machine authorities as is specified in the application for the venue licence.

(3)  The Commission must not grant a provisional venue licence endorsed with gaming machine authorities if gaming machines have not operated at the licensed premises to which the licence relates in the 6-month period immediately before the application for a venue licence was made.

(4)  Subject to subsection (5) , a provisional venue licence granted in respect of licensed premises ceases to have effect on the earliest of the following events:

(a) the withdrawal of the application referred to in subsection (1)(b) ;

(b) the determination of the application referred to in subsection (1)(b) ;

(c) the expiry of the period of 180 days from the date on which the provisional venue licence was granted.

(5)  The Commission may extend the period referred to in subsection (4)(c) if it considers it appropriate to do so.

(6)  This Act applies to a provisional venue licence in the same way as it applies to a venue licence (to the extent that is consistent with this section).