Liverpool is set to undergo regulatory changes that halt gambling marketing from appearing on the side of taxis in the city.
Documents released and seen by the Liverpool Echo detailed a myriad of changes to the sector in the North West city, including limitations on marketing which would likely impact the relationship between black cabs and the gambling industry.
Risking backlash from drivers in the region, the changes come alongside a steep rise in licensing prices for the sector.
There is also a dispute brewing around the number of vehicles that are registered in Wolverhampton but operating in Liverpool – with many believing that the licensing process in Wolverhampton is far easier than in other parts of the country.
The capital watches on
The tightening of restrictions in the North of England is yet to be mirrored in the South of England, in spite of significant criticism levelled at London Mayor, Sadiq Khan.
Khan has been accused of “backtracking” after he pledged in 2021 to remove gambling advertising from the TFL network – a pledge he is yet to fulfil.
Justifying his lack of action on the pledge, he emphasised he is awaiting the Labour government to “provide a national framework to address the issue” before taking action.
Northern pressure
The pressure from the North of England also spread to Manchester, as UK Councils, led by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, demanded Gambling Review changes – expressing fear that local communities are being overwhelmed by “24-hour slot shops.”
A coalition of councils and mayors issued a letter to the government underlining the need 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 describes 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.”
