Gambling Commission Backs New Council Powers as High Street Shift Continues

The UK Gambling Commission has outlined new plans for English councils to have legal power over gambling licensing decisions. This marks one of the most significant shifts in local control since the Gambling Act 2005.

Policy Director Ian Angus spoke at the Institute of Licensing Gambling Conference to explain the movement of the reforms through Parliament. The reforms are tied to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The UKGC has high confidence that they will pass.

At the centre of the changes is the introduction of Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs). This new tool would allow councils to assess local harm and block new betting or gaming venues based on community-level evidence.

Councils Set to Gain New Licensing Powers

GIAs are a clear shift away from the long-standing ‘Aim to Permit’ principle. Aim to Permit has historically required licensing authorities to always approve applications - unless specific conditions are breached.

Under the proposed GIA system, local authorities would instead be able to:

• Assess gambling-related harm in their area
• Introduce a presumption against new licences in identified locations
• Use evidence-based assessments to refuse applications

Operators will still be able to challenge decisions, and make appeals, potentially reaching the courts.

The UKGC said it will work with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to produce guidance on how GIAs should be implemented. This will include consultation with communities, operators and stakeholders.

H2: High Street Numbers Stable, But Composition Shifting

While GIAs and licensing powers were the hot topic of Ian Angus’ speech, he also brought some interesting facts about land-based gambling premises across the UK.

As of September 2025, the latest regulatory data shows there are:

• Total premises: 8,254 (up 20)
• Betting shops: 5,782 (down 43)
• Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs): 1,454 (up 39)

The net change in the overall number of venues minimal, but the composition is shifting. Betting shops are closing and making way for more machine-led venues. The UKGC’s own data shows that machine/terminal games (the main activity at most AGCs) are correlated with higher PGSI scores (5.5) than sports betting in person (3.1). As the UKGC is also predicting more betting shop closures when the new powers come into law, it’ll be interesting to see if problematic gambling behaviours change.

£26m Boost Targets Illegal Gambling, Including Land-Based Activity

Enforcement against illegal gambling is also being scaled up. HM Treasury has allocated a £26m funding package to tackle the problem. The UK Gambling Commission will use this funding over the next three years to expand its activity in this area.

For the first time, this will include a greater focus on land-based illegal gambling. Angus revealed that historically, land-based enforcement has been constrained by limited resources.

The move reflects growing concern that unlicensed operators are not confined to online markets. Now, physical venues and informal setups also forming part of the wider black market landscape.

The Commission said it will continue to work with local authorities and police forces to strengthen enforcement.

With councils set to gain more control over licensing decisions, operators facing higher costs, and enforcement activity increasing, both legal and illegal land-based gambling are likely to come under closer scrutiny in the year ahead.