The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has continued to back high street betting shops and their contribution to the local economy, as future developments of the sector face intensified scrutiny under the UK Government’s Pride In Place programme.
The standards body noted that high street betting shops offer knock-on support for local businesses and tax contributions. However, local authorities have been granted additional control over where new land-based gambling businesses can operate.
Pride In Place’s impact on gambling licensing
Pride In Place aims to provide local government with more power over decisions and access to funds for projects that can help revitalise high streets, public spaces, and local heritage.
Part of the programme includes decision-making on “Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing”, influencing gambling outlets’ location and density in local communities.
Under section 97, the programme states: “This will allow local authorities to take data-driven decisions on premises licences, particularly in areas that have been identified as being vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
“This will empower local authorities to better shape their high streets and neighbourhoods, and to ensure a healthy mix of premises in their town and city centres.”
This will impact the future of betting shops on UK high streets, as local councils have previously expressed concerns over communities being flooded by “24-hour slot shops”.
Calls were even made for the shifting of the Gambling Act, as 36 councils and two mayors rallied for change around the framework in a letter authored by Brent Council Leader Muhammed Butt that was addressed to DCMS Secretary Lisa Nandy.
The letter said: “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.”
One of the key figures calling for change is the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who has been rumoured in the build-up to the Labour Party’s annual conference to be making a bid to become the next Labour leader.
BGC: Betting shops support local businesses
The BGC has issued a response to the Pride In Place programme direction on land-based gambling establishments, praising the tax contributions high street betting shops provide, as well as the knock-on support they provide to local businesses.
“The BGC is proud of the role our members play supporting Britain’s hard-pressed high streets. Betting shops support 46,000 jobs, contribute nearly £1bn a year in direct tax to the Treasury and a further £60m in business rates to local councils, while having the highest standards on player safety and age verification.
“Crucially, research by ESA Retail shows that 89% of betting shop customers also visit other local businesses when they go to the bookies, providing a welcome boost to high street trade. However, since 2019, the number of betting shops has fallen by 29% – over 2,300 closures in just five years, with the loss of thousands of jobs, and millions in tax revenue.
“Each month, around 22.5 million people in Britain enjoy a bet – on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls, and online – and the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly. The most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.”
Uncertain future
The UK Government could soon put all areas of the gambling industry under significant pressure, as it has been widely speculated that the country’s regulated gambling market could see its tax rise.
It comes as no surprise that the BGC is against such a decision, with a BGC spokesperson stating: “We strongly oppose proposals to raise taxes on the regulated betting and gaming industry.
“Such a move would be short-sighted, harming jobs, investment, and sports funding, while failing to deliver more revenue. BGC members already contribute £6.8bn to the economy, pay £4bn in taxes, and support 109,000 jobs. Piling further tax rises onto the sector, on top of reforms that have already cost over £1bn, risks undermining a responsible industry.
“Every time the Treasury squeezes the regulated sector, it strengthens the unsafe black market, which pays no tax, offers no consumer protection, and puts UK jobs and growth at risk.”
An indication of the UK Government’s plans for the gambling industry could be provided this week as the Labour Party convenes for its annual conference.
Plans that could impact the UK gambling industry have already been announced, such as the introduction of Digital ID as mandatory for workers in the UK by the end of the current Parliament.
In response to the plans, Capitalixe’s Lissele Pratt told iGaming Expert that the Digital ID policy is both bold and polarising, but could pose a significant risk if done incorrectly.
