Growing Demand to Scrap Rule Favoring New Betting Shops on UK High Streets

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure to change gambling laws. Hundreds of elected officials and campaigners have asked the government to get rid of an old rule that makes it hard for councils to stop new betting shops from opening.

Critics Say Outdated Gambling Policy Fuels Slot Shop Growth

The debate centers on the “aim to permit” principle, a policy that came about when the Labour government overhauled gambling laws in the mid-2000s. This rule tells licensing bodies like local councils and the UK Gambling Commission to lean towards saying yes to applications for bookmakers and adult gaming centers, including places with slot machines that stay open all day and night.

A letter to the prime minister, signed by 300 people, claims the rule no longer works well, reported The Guardian. Labour MP Dawn Butler led this effort. The signers include many MPs, House of Lords members, councilors from all over, and people involved in gambling reform efforts. They say this rule has made it harder for communities to control their high streets, even when locals strongly oppose more gambling spots.

Those fighting this issue point out that 24-hour slot machine shops have grown in poor areas. They claim that companies have used lenient planning and licensing rules to their advantage. This has resulted in groups of gambling places that cause more social problems while offering little economic benefit to the areas around them.

Reformers Urge Government to Go Further on Gambling Controls

The government has recognized worries by promising to let councils look at the overall impact when checking new license requests. This would allow authorities to consider how many betting places are already in the area. However, the people behind the letter think this change by itself would not fix the system enough.

They want to get rid of the “aim to permit” approach. This approach has been the backbone of gambling rules since the Gambling Act came into full effect in 2007. Before that, businesses that wanted to open betting shops had to show there was a need for them in a given area that was not being met.

People who want change say this is not about stopping casual betting, but about protecting at-risk residents and giving local leaders real power. They point to numbers that suggest over a million Brits struggle with gambling addiction, which affects families, public services, and neighborhoods.

Butler has also made moves in parliament by asking for a quick law-making debate, a tactic often used to see how much support a possible future law might have.

The gambling business has fought against these ideas. A spokesperson for the Betting & Gaming Council talked up the industry’s role in jobs, taxes, and bringing customers to nearby shops. They noted that betting shops have dropped in number a lot in recent years, along with thousands of lost jobs.

The government has not given a public response to the letter yet. However, activists believe this moment offers an opportunity to overhaul gambling rules with the public’s well-being as the main focus.