New powers needed to beat the bookies, say councils

Urgent reforms are needed to the Gambling Act 2005, according to a cross-party group of councils.

Local authorities need more powers to refuse gambling premise license applications that threaten the community’s welfare and safety, according to the group of 38 councils and combined authorities – including 17 London boroughs, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Leader of Glasgow Council – who have written to Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport today, Wednesday 2 April.

The coalition of councils, led by Brent, are asking the Government to consider six key reforms to the Gambling Act (2005), from changes to planning and licensing to an overhaul of gambling advertising. The Act in its current form, according to council leaders, risks undermining the health of local communities and high streets, and strips power away from residents and local decision makers.

Brent has the second-highest number of betting premises out of all the London boroughs with 81 shops, which includes betting shops, bingo halls, and adult gaming centres. This is one of the highest concentrations in the UK, and the figure outnumbers essential services such as supermarkets, banks, job centres and GP surgeries. Within the current legislation, councils are not able to reject a premise license solely on public health grounds, no matter the number of public objections.

A study from Bristol University found that betting shops were 10 times more likely to be found in deprived towns than affluent areas. There are six gambling premises within a 600-metre stretch on Harlesden High Street alone - with a seventh to follow later this year – in an area which has an average household income of £23,977 per year, significantly below the London average of £47,500.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council said: “I am proud that we have joined forces with 38 other councils and combined authorities today, representing over 12 million people up and down the country impacted by outdated legislation on gambling. There’s too much on the line to ignore the harms of betting shops on Britain’s high streets, but our hands are effectively tied by a law no longer fit for purpose. Brent’s Six Point Plan for Change is our blueprint for reform, and we look forward to working with our coalition of councils and the Government to put our asks into action.”

Brent Council, and the 38 other local and combined authorities, are calling for six steps to reform and renew the Gambling Act:

1. Reform the 'Aim to Permit' Policy: Grant local authorities the power to reject premise license applications that threaten the community’s welfare and safety.
2. Categorisation of premises: Ensure that the incoming National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) places Bingo Halls and Adult Gaming Centres in the same planning category as bookmakers, so they cannot bypass caps by splitting premises.
3. Planning applications: Allow councils to consider local household debt levels when evaluating planning applications for high street casinos, to prevent the proliferation of gambling dens in close proximity to schools, in the same way councils can limit junk food establishments in these areas.
4. Statutory levy for gambling harm prevention: Administer the statutory levy on gambling operators for research, education, and treatment through an independent public body, further devolving funding to local health authorities.
5. Overhaul of gambling advertising: Prohibit gambling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship to prevent exposure, especially to children and young people.
6. Stop progress on proposals to liberalise adult gaming centres: Follow the recommendations of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, which underlines the need for a review of spin speed and excess staking levels on harmful B3 machines.

Read the letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about the urgent need for gambling reform to address community harms.