Andy Burnham confirms change that could limit high-street gambling venues in Britain
The reforms will abolish the “aim to permit” rule and introduce new planning permission requirements for 24-hour adult gaming centres.
UK.- The new British prime minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to abolish the “aim to permit” rule, a cornerstone of the 2005 Gambling Act that required local councils to lean towards approving applications for land-based gambling venues in Britain. The move, which will apply across England, Scotland and Wales, is intended to give local authorities greater power to block new betting shops and adult gaming centres in what’s being billed as part of a plan to revive Britain’s high streets.
Burnham had already signalled an intention to reduce business rate relief for gaming halls and other high-street businesses deemed to have a “negative impact” on society. The reforms announced today will also introduce new planning permission requirements for 24-hour adult gaming centres and for vape shops. Northern Ireland, which operates under separate gambling legislation dating back to the 1980s, is unaffected by the changes.
Burnham framed the decision as part of an effort to restore town centres, telling the BBC: “The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services and community spaces that people are crying out for. High streets are the beating heart of local communities, but for too long Westminster has stood by while they have been in decline. This Government is committed to restoring our high streets and bringing back hope across Britain.”
The announcement comes amid mounting pressure from local government authorities. Some 38 councils, including Greater Manchester where Burnham was mayor until June, have campaigned for the removal of the “aim to permit” rule. Councils said the rule often left them unable to reject gambling venue applications because of the high likelihood that central government would override the decision if the applicant appealed.
The writing had already been on the wall after the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was passed by the House of Commons earlier this year. Burnham’s announcement today accelerates the timetable. On the issue of vape shops, the government is pledging to tighten definitions to prevent businesses from sidestepping the rules by presenting themselves as convenience stores. Police powers will be expanded to shut down “dodgy” premises such as barbers, vape shops and nail salons linked to organised crime, with closure orders extended from six months to a year.
British gaming industry reaction
Burnham’s pledge to scrap the rule marks a significant shift from the liberalisation of gambling laws under Tony Blair’s Labour government, in which Burnham himself served as a minister, he insists the priority is to put “communities back in control” and to reverse decades of decline that have left many high streets “hollowed out and unrecognisable.”
However, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned that the policy on gambling venues risks worsening vacancy rates on high streets. It noted that betting shop numbers have fallen by over a third since 2019. Just last month, Betfred announced plans to close 132 betting shops, a short time after Evoke announced that it would close 200 William Hill shops.
According to Gambling Commission data, there were 8,234 gambling establishments on British high streets as of March 2025, down from 12,207 in 2011. This consisted of 5,825 betting shops, 1,415 adult gaming centres, 684 bingo halls, 169 family entertainment centres and 141 casinos.
There’s also a concern that regulated betting shops are tarred with the same brush as rogue or criminal businesses. The BGC stressed that regulated betting shops still support 37,500 jobs, bring footfall to neighbouring businesses and serve as community hubs. “The real threat to Britain’s hard-pressed high streets is more empty units and fewer local jobs, not businesses rooted in the communities they serve,” the BGC said.
The Social Market Foundation (SMF), a think tank that has been critical of the gambling sector and recently recommended a rise in Machine Games Duty, welcomed the announcement. Jamie Gollings, its Deputy Research Director, said: “This is a significant and welcome step for local democracy and thriving communities. Councils know their high streets better than anyone, yet the ‘aim to permit’ rule has meant they’ve had very little real say over what opens on them. Our research made clear that these venues are proliferating in the poorest communities, are linked to anti-social behaviour and often fail the basic tests of fairness and harm prevention set out in the Gambling Act itself. Today’s announcement is exactly what we called for and it puts decision-making back where it belongs – with the councils and communities who have to live with the consequences.”
The Centre for Social Justice also backed the reforms, pointing to its analysis showing Britain has lost nearly 1,800 pubs and bars since 2016, while vape and tobacco shops have risen to almost 2,200.
The Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) has also been gaining support among local authorities.
