“Aim to Permit” Rule Under Fire as Local Councils Demand More Power Over Betting Shops

Across the UK, frustration is building at street level over how gambling venues are approved and where they end up. Local councils and community groups say current licensing rules leave them with little real say, even when residents are clear they do not want more betting shops or round-the-clock slot venues on their high streets.

At the centre of the debate is the long-standing “aim to permit” principle, introduced in 2005 and reinforced by the 2007 Gambling Act. In practice, it places the burden on councils to approve gambling premises unless there is a clear legal reason not to. Critics argue this has tilted the system away from local judgment and toward automatic approval.

Labour MP Dawn Butler has been among those amplifying council concerns, warning that the steady spread of betting shops and 24-hour slot venues is narrowing the mix of local businesses and increasing exposure to gambling harm, particularly in already disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Councils and Residents Seek More Involvement

That sentiment has now coalesced into a broader political push. A letter sent to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging reform has gathered 280 signatures, including dozens of MPs, members of the House of Lords, and more than 200 local councillors. The message is not about banning gambling outright, but about restoring councils’ ability to weigh social impact alongside commercial considerations.

Supporters of reform point to the scale of harm linked to gambling. More than one million people in the UK are prone to experience gambling-related harm directly, with ripple effects felt by families, public services, and mental health support systems. Councillors argue that communities bearing the brunt of this harm often have the least power to stop further concentration of gambling venues.

Lower-income areas are frequently on the spotlight, particularly in places where residents can find multiple betting shops or slot venues clustered within walking distance. Local leaders say this density is not accidental, but a product of licensing rules that prioritise market access over neighbourhood wellbeing.

Implications of the Licensing Reform

The government has signalled that change is coming. From 2025, councils are expected to gain the ability to carry out cumulative impact assessments, allowing them to consider how many gambling premises already operate in an area before approving new licences. Campaigners welcome the move but warn it may fall short if the “aim to permit” rule remains intact.

Concerns have sharpened around the growth of 24/7 slot venues, which critics say exploit regulatory grey areas and undermine efforts to revitalise high streets with diverse, daytime-focused businesses. Continuous opening hours, councils argue, increase risks for young people and those already vulnerable to harm.

Industry bodies counter that the picture may be somewhat of an overstatement. The Betting & Gaming Council highlights job creation, tax contributions, and a significant decline in traditional betting shops since 2019. It argues that further restrictions could damage local economies and threaten a sector already under pressure.

As far as councils and communities are concerned, however, the issue is less about industry survival and more about local balance. As the Starmer government weighs its next steps, the question is whether gambling regulation will finally give neighbourhoods the authority they say they have been missing for nearly two decades.