UK Politicians and Campaigners Urge PM to Abolish Slot Machine Ruling

Councils and campaigners are reportedly clamouring for the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to abolish a rule that restricts communities from refusing licensing applications for the opening of 24-hour slot machine shops and bookmaker venues. Indeed, campaigners are increasingly concerned by the growing number of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs).

The policy currently in place, known as “aim to permit”, limits the power of councils to refuse applications, and it’s been around since 2005 when Tony Blair’s Labour government liberalised gambling legislation. However, councils and politicians are adamant that now is time to close the chapter on “aim to permit”.

Putting things in motion

Labour MP Dawn Buttler took a lead on the matter, co-ordinating a letter sent to Starmer which 280 people signed. Of those who lent their support, there were 46 MPs, six House of Lords members, and 216 councillors.

Prominent political figures, such as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, have thrown their weight behind the campaign. However, he has expressed concerns that the proposed measures need to go deeper.

The letter read:

“Our high streets are being hollowed out by a surge of betting shops and 24/7 slot-machine venues, while local people are left powerless.

“This call for change is not about banning the occasional bet. It’s about protecting our high streets, supporting vulnerable residents and ensuring that councils have the tools to act in the interests of their communities.”

Coming under greater scrutiny

AGCs and gambling venues, more widely speaking, have come under increased scrutiny from a planning permission perspective. Admiral Casino, for example, in October last year tried to push ahead with a 24-hour licence in Brixton after seeing an application to extend the Earls Court branch rejected.

However, in other parts of the country, the picture has been markedly different. For example, in Ipswich, a fourth 24-hour gambling venue was approved last summer, which aligns with the “aim to permit” policy values.

Problem gambling takes grip

One of the sticking points of the current policy centres around the problem gambling endemic. Figures released by UK gambling charity GamCare revealed that 130,000 calls were taken through the National Gambling Helpline between April and March 2025, representing a rise from 80,000 calls between 2023 and 2024.

Moreover, with gambling charities feeling the pinch over the allocation of government funding, the campaign to revisit the “aim to permit” policy has some merit. More pertinently, the gambling sector is now thought to be worth £12.5 billion a year, so the government has to ensure they don’t curb a thriving industry.

‘Putting people before profit’

Buttler wants to see the Gambling Commission err on the side of caution. Having applied for a 10-minute bill, Buttler wants to see the government ‘put people before profit’.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) said:

“We’ve already committed to giving councils unprecedented new powers to limit gambling shops on their high streets and will introduce new assessments to go further so that councils have greater say over the location and number of gambling outlets, particularly in areas vulnerable to harmful gambling.

“We are working across government and with councils to halt the decline that people are seeing in their towns and high streets so people feel proud of the area they call home.”