UK Councils are demanding Gambling Review changes expressing fear that local communities are being overwhelmed by “24-hour slot shops.”
The UK government is facing pressure from local councils to tighten regulations on the exposure of betting estates and gambling venues as British high streets now host over 200,000 B3 gaming machines.
This morning, ITV News broadcast an exclusive report by UK Politics correspondent Shehab Khan, highlighting “concerns over the number of slot machines and betting shops opening on high streets.”
As a result, a coalition of councils and mayors has urged the government to implement immediate changes to the Gambling Review, ensuring that local authorities have the power to prevent the concentration of gambling and betting premises.
According to the report, 36 councils and two mayors, representing over 12 million people, have signed a letter calling for “key reforms of the Gambling Act,” which they believe has overlooked community-level concerns about gambling harms.
The letter, authored by Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, is addressed to DCMS Secretary Lisa Nandy:
“Communities like Brent are experiencing a surge of land-based gambling operators spreading along our high streets, seemingly targeting areas of higher deprivation to maximise profits. The alarming concentration of these premises often faces strong community opposition, as well as concerns from public health and community safety officials.
“But despite this shared opposition among residents, police, and politicians, councils have found themselves effectively powerless to intervene. The current statutory ‘Aim to Permit’ duty severely restricts a council’s ability to block the opening of additional gambling venues, even when the community is unequivocally against it.”
The coalition is supported by high-profile figures such as Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Members describe current community controls on gambling as “inadequate” to prevent the proliferation of gambling premises.
The councillors have proposed six reforms to be added to the Gambling Review to fully honour the Labour manifesto pledge of protecting communities from gambling-related harm. These include:
- Strengthening Local Authority Control: Allow councils to reject licence applications that may harm community safety.
- Reclassifying Gaming Venues: Treat bingo halls and adult gaming centres the same as bookmakers in planning policies to prevent loopholes.
- Considering Debt in Planning Decisions: Enable councils to consider local debt when approving new casinos, similar to how they regulate junk food outlets near schools.
- Independent Levy Administration: Manage gambling industry levies for research and treatment through an independent public body, with local distribution.
- Banning Gambling Advertising: Prohibit all forms of gambling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship to protect children and young people.
- Halting the Liberalisation of Gaming Centres: Pause plans to relax rules on adult gaming centres, following expert recommendations on machine safety.
The letter concluded: “The communities we serve are experiencing the detrimental impacts of the proliferation of gambling venues. To be clear, we are not calling for an outright ban on gambling in any form; rather, we are offering our collective support for much-needed reform of the legislation to suit the modern age.”
MPs aware of local concerns
Yesterday, the issue of local accountability in gambling protections was raised at the Select Committee on Gambling Harms. Feedback is being considered as the government prepares to introduce a Statutory Levy on problem gambling from 6 April, with funding managed by three bodies: the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Sam Chamberlain, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Southampton, emphasised that local communities must have the capacity to provide specialised gambling harm treatment on a 24/7 basis.
The academic warned of the high presence of B3 gaming machines on the high street, which direct vulnerable consumers to higher-risk online games. He stressed that no gambling product should be considered benign.
Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health Nottingham, stressed the importance of a community-focused approach to addressing gambling harms. She noted that local efforts are significantly challenged by the ambitions of the multi-billion-pound UK gambling sector.
As the Statutory Levy takes effect, Hubber argued that the government should prioritise localised actions, as local communities with specific resources can better identify those at harm. Yet, the current framework presents challenges, as the NHS lacks the authority to intervene when gambling businesses encroach on local areas.
Future reforms and conflicting interests
The call for council interventions may conflict with the remaining reforms of the Gambling Review, which aim to modernise laws governing land-based gambling.
The Gambling Review White Paper, yet to be finalised, seeks to provide a new framework for land-based operators to manage their venues. Proposed changes include updating the 1968 Casino Act to allow up to 80 gaming machines (depending on the venue’s size).
DCMS plans to remove the ban on direct debit card use on gaming machines and revise the ratio of higher to lower stake machines in bingo venues and gaming halls. These changes aim to better meet customer demand while reducing energy costs.
The government asserts that these measures are part of a broader effort to update gambling regulations to better reflect the current landscape while ensuring adequate protections.
