The UK government has scrapped the 'aim to permit' principle in the Gambling Act 2005, handing local councils and communities greater power to refuse new gambling venues. The change, announced on Monday, follows a campaign led by Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, who argued that the old rule stripped residents of any real say over their high streets.
How the rule change works
Under the previous system, councils were effectively bound by a presumption that gambling premises should be permitted, leaving them with limited ability to reject applications. This meant that even when communities voiced opposition, betting shops, casinos, and adult gaming centres could open with little recourse. The new rules remove that presumption, allowing councils to make decisions based on local needs and concerns.
Butler began her campaign in 2021, after discovering that the 'aim to permit' principle was the root cause of the proliferation of gambling venues. She took a minister to Harlesden high street to show the reality firsthand, launched a petition for Londoners, and organized a cross-party letter signed by over 280 MPs, councillors, mayors, and gambling reform advocates, including then-mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. The campaign also reached parliament, with Butler raising the issue at prime minister's questions and leading a debate.
Impact on communities
The scale of the problem is stark. B3 gambling machines—high-stakes slot-style games found in betting shops, adult gaming centres, and casinos—generate an average of £35,000 in gross gambling yield per machine each year. That figure exceeds the roughly £26,400 annual earnings of someone aged 21 or over working 40 hours a week on the national living wage. In Brent, gambling premises outnumber supermarkets in 17 of the borough's 22 wards, with 81 licensed venues in total.
Butler highlighted the human cost, citing a 2023 report estimating between 117 and 496 gambling-related suicides in England each year. She worked with campaigners like Jackie Olden, whose mother's life was ruined by slot-machine addiction, and organizations such as Gambling with Lives and Gambling Harm UK, whose expertise helped build the case for reform.
Next steps for residents
Butler urged residents to seize the new powers: 'With the support of Londoners and campaigners across the country, we fought, organised and delivered. So, this is your chance: take back your high streets. Get involved, hold your council to account – use these new powers to demand and shape the neighbourhoods you deserve.'
The change is expected to give councils the tools to reject applications that do not align with local priorities, potentially reducing the number of gambling venues in communities across England and Wales. Butler expressed gratitude to residents, Brent council, and reform advocates who pushed for the change, noting that the victory was years in the making.
