The Minister for Gambling has visited a North London borough blighted by an influx of gambling sites, where there are now more places to bet than supermarkets and schools combined.
Brent Council has been running a campaign to lobby the government to change “outdated legislation” and give local authorities more powers to reject applications.
On Monday (May 12), Baroness Fiona Twycross – alongside Brent Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt, and Brent East MP Dawn Butler – walked around the borough to see the impact that the density of gambling shops is having in deprived areas like Harlesden and Willesden Green.
A coalition of 38 local authorities and mayors, led by Brent Council, has been lobbying the Government to give councils and combined authorities more powers to refuse gambling premise license applications that “threaten the community’s welfare and safety”. The council is proposing a six-point plan to reform the Gambling Act, which covers planning, licensing, advertising and local control.
Brent has the second-highest number of betting premises out of all the London boroughs with 81 venues, which includes betting shops, bingo halls, and adult gaming centres. This is also one of the highest concentrations in the UK, and outnumbers essential services such as supermarkets, banks, job centres and GP surgeries.
However, councils are unable to reject new applications based solely on public health grounds, regardless of how many residents oppose the plans, largely due to the Gambling Act’s ‘Aim To Permit’ duty that makes councils prioritise approval. In an April letter addressed to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, the signatories claim constituencies are “bearing the social and fiscal consequences” of outdated legislation.
During the visit, Baroness Twycross was shown the high density of gambling premises, specifically in Harlesden where there are already six within a 600-metre stretch and a seventh to follow later this year. She also spoke with residents and business owners in the area, according to the council, which has an average income of £23,977 per year – significantly below the London average of £47,500.
Dawn Butler MP told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It was important for me to show Baroness Twycross the proliferation of gambling establishments in Brent and to convey how deeply this issue affects our community. The concentration of these venues in lower-income areas is both cruel and unnecessary; often targeting vulnerable residents with free refreshments and Wi-Fi — encouraging addiction rather than community wellbeing.”
She added: “While I acknowledge their role in the economy, it has reached excessive levels. I’m backing Brent Council’s six-point plan for gambling reform and will continue advocating for legislative change in Parliament. Our high streets, including Harlesden and Willesden Green, reflect the vibrant, independent spirit of Brent with independent shops and community spaces. Our message is clear: we do not want another betting shop opening.”
Prior to her visit, Baroness Twycross had responded to the council’s letter to Ms Nandy MP by saying that the government wants local authorities to “feel empowered to make decisions that are in their communities’ best interests” and will “look to complement [their] existing powers” with regards to refusing or placing conditions on licences.
She added: “Additionally, I recognise that there are concerns about the strength of protections for vulnerable people in the adult gaming centre sector, and I will also seek assurance on how the sector protects its customers from gambling related harm and upholds the highest standards of regulatory compliance before committing to any deregulatory changes.
“The Government has introduced a statutory levy charged to all licensed gambling operators. The levy is now in force and will raise circa £100 million each year for research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm and will be a huge step forward for our efforts to tackle and treat those in need.”
Rather than focusing on adult gaming centres, Baroness Twycross said that priority will be given to sectors that “I believe need the most support at this time”, such as family entertainment centres and bingo clubs. She also pointed to a “range of robust, targeted measures” on gambling advertising so they do not “exacerbate the risks of harmful gambling”, which includes not targeting children, featuring people under 25, and banning top-flight footballers and celebrities popular with children from appearing.
She added: “However, we recognise that more can be done and I have set the gambling industry the task of further raising standards to ensure gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm. We will continue to monitor this work closely and will look at appropriate action should this approach not deliver.”
Following the visit, Cllr Butt said: “I’d like to thank Baroness Twycross for engaging with our proposals and taking the time to visit Brent, to see the impact that outdated gambling legislation is having on communities like ours.”
He added: “Local leaders representing over 12 million people up and down the country agree that our blueprint for reform is what’s needed to help them to take on the betting shops and casinos that are taking over some of our high streets. We would like to work with the Government to see these changes adopted, and will continue to make that case with our growing coalition of partners.”
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
