Council-Led Reform Could Overhaul Gambling Venue Licensing
Brent Council has launched a strategic partnership with the Social Market Foundation (SMF). The collaboration aims to challenge and reform current UK gambling regulations—particularly those governing Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), which have become a visible feature in some of the country’s most economically vulnerable communities.
Targeting the “Aim to Permit” Rule
At the heart of the initiative is a call to repeal the “Aim to Permit” rule, a provision within the Gambling Act 2005 that essentially obliges local councils to grant licenses for gambling premises unless there is strong evidence of harm. Critics argue this framework undermines the ability of local authorities to object to or regulate AGCs, even in cases where community wellbeing is demonstrably at risk.
Brent Council believes that removing or reforming this rule is critical to restoring local autonomy, allowing councils to assess and act on the unique needs and vulnerabilities of their residents.
High Street Gambling and Socioeconomic Harm
AGCs offer slot machines, fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs), and other high-intensity gambling products. Research by The Guardian reveals that one-third of AGCs are concentrated in the UK’s poorest 10% of neighbourhoods—a finding echoed in Brent’s own Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. The council’s analysis shows that this clustering contributes to:
Addiction cycles
Rising personal debt
Diminished public health outcomes
The link between gambling availability and financial hardship is a growing concern for policymakers, with Brent Council positioning itself at the forefront of evidence-led local governance.
Political Support and Wider Implications
Brent’s initiative has earned political backing, notably from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has publicly supported efforts to give councils more power over gambling licenses. Burnham has previously highlighted the contradiction between national gambling policy and local public health priorities.
The SMF will now conduct a full regulatory review, assessing whether gambling venues deliver genuine economic benefit or contribute to long-term social harm. The research will guide recommendations for legislative reform, potentially informing future changes to the Gambling Act, currently under scrutiny by UK regulators and Parliament.
Conclusion: Towards a Public Health-Centred Gambling Policy
With this initiative, Brent Council and the SMF are challenging the long-held notion that gambling venues represent neutral or positive additions to local economies. By focusing on community impact, health outcomes, and local authority empowerment, this partnership may serve as a blueprint for broader reform across the UK.
If successful, it could shift the national conversation from permissiveness to precaution, ensuring that local governments have the tools to balance economic interests with their duty to protect residents from gambling-related harm.
