Adult gaming centres have been in the news in King’s Lynn lately, with a fresh one arriving in the town centre soon. But few seem to welcome their arrival.
The Labour group on King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council are very concerned at the
prospect of more of them, and feedback from residents suggests they share our concerns.
This is why, back in July, the Labour group brought a motion on gambling reform to full
council asking it to support the work of Brent Council in London.
Brent, backed by over 40 councils and mayors nationally, are calling for the biggest overhaul of the Gambling Act since its creation in 2005.
We were delighted by how much support we got for our motion.
Gambling addiction is an escalating national issue with serious social and economic
implications. Gambling harms affect families, public services and communities particularly
in areas that have socio-economic deprivation.
Many local authorities have seen a proliferation of betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos on high streets, but are effectively powerless to stop it due to outdated legislation.
The problem comes from Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005, which enshrines the ‘Aim to Permit’ principle. This requires councils to approve gambling licences where minimum
criteria are met, regardless of community opposition or concerns over public health, crime or social impact.
Thus, without a change in the law, councils struggle to stop new gambling premises opening. Right now if councils refuse an application, the decision is likely to be overturned in the courts.
The surge in online gambling and wall-to-wall gambling advertising across the sporting world – on Premier League footballers’ shirts for example – has only deepened these harms and normalised gambling in everyday life.
Gambling is a hidden addiction, but its harmful consequences are well-documented and
have been linked to suicide, depression, anxiety and financial ruin.
Gambling also puts an estimated £1.77bn annual pressure on the UK economy – far above
the £1bn per year that betting shops pay in tax to the Treasury.
The impact of betting shops on the look, feel and tone of our high streets is profound, and contributes significantly to the deteriorating sense of pride and status of UK town centres.
We want to see vibrant, varied high streets that serve the needs of our residents.
We are not calling for an outright ban on gambling, but instead for common-sense reforms that protect vulnerable people and put power back in the hands of local leaders who know their communities best.
The good news is that the Government has listened, and its latest announcement introduces
a bold new package of powers under its “Pride in Place” programme, billed as the largest transfer of power from Whitehall to communities in history.
As well as record investment in over 330 communities across the country, the reforms promise new rights for residents to take over boarded-up shops, to save and repurpose valued local pubs and libraries, and – crucially – to block the spread of unwanted betting
shops and vape stores in already saturated areas.
Incoming Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing will put power back in the hands of local leaders when deciding new applications – and will mean that councils can finally reflect the real lived experience of our residents and the harms they face when high streets become saturated with gambling outlets.
The time is now for urgent reform on gambling legislation, ensuring our high streets work for our residents and not against them. We hope this is a significant step towards a brand-new Gambling Act, revamping planning legislation and wiping out the ‘Aim to Permit’ for good.