UK: local councils call for more powers to control gambling
Local councils and Police and Crime Commissioners have responded to the British government’s review of gambling legislation.
UK.- Local governments in the UK have called for more powers to control betting and gaming.
In a joint response to the national government’s review of gambling legislation, the Local Government Association (LGA) and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) say local councils should have more powers to prevent the opening of betting shops, slots arcades and casinos.
The two bodies cite research that found that 21 per cent of all gambling premises in the UK are located in the most deprived areas of the country. They argue that local authorities need “more legal flexibility” to be able to reject applications for gambling premises under certain circumstances, for example when there are schools, supported housing or treatment centres close by.
They also want measures to reduce the volume of betting advertising and marketing, particularly on sports channels “regularly watched by children” and on social media, and supported calls for a statutory levy on gambling operators to fund problem gambling treatment.
This is something that GambleAware has pushed for, particularly after the NHS cut ties with the charity due to concerns around a possible conflict of interest.
Councilor Nesil Caliskan, chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils are not anti-gambling, but it is time we have a regulatory framework for gambling that above all else prioritises protecting vulnerable people from gambling-related harm and gives powers to local communities.
“The government should take steps to reduce the volume of advertising and marketing offers that are routinely made available via television and online.
Gambling Act review: a “golden opportunity”
The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is expected to publish its delayed gambling white paper this spring. The document will propose the first major changes to British gambling legislation since the 2005 Gambling Act.
Caliskan added: “The review is a golden opportunity for the government to implement further measures that empower local communities and their elected representatives to determine what and how many gambling premises they have in their local areas. It is unacceptable that councils have such limited powers to refuse applications for new premises.”
Joy Allen and David Sidwick, APCC joint leads for Addictions and Substance Misuse, said: “We know that people are committing serious crimes to fund gambling addictions and Police and Crime Commissioners are committed to taking action to make our communities safer.
“We support calls for councils to have more legal flexibility and power with respect to local gambling premises and we want to see measures to get to grips with problem gambling online.
“Problem gambling can do a great deal of harm, to both the individual and to society, and we want to ensure that support is available to those affected and, where the industry has acted irresponsibly, it is held to account for its actions.”
