Key Points
- UK Prime Minister committed to crackdown on retail betting
- Councils to gain more power with blocking new betting shops
- ‘Aim to Permit’ rule could be scrapped
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly committed to a full crackdown on retail betting, and he is ready to empower councils to block the opening of what are deemed undesirable venues.
As part of his UK tour, Burnham has outlined his ambitious proposals to revitalise Britain’s tired high streets. In doing so,
BBC News
claim Burnham will be in ‘full listening mode’ canvassing opinions as he shores up a 10-year plan to restore hope to the country.
Putting the control in council hands
Burnham’s antipathy towards the gambling industry is well-documented. When Burnham took control of No.10 last month, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester wasted no time in revealing
several eye-catching policy pledges, including reducing VAT from energy bills, but he hasn’t lost sight of betting.
Indeed, Burnham repeatedly lamented the growing influence of slot arcades and Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) and their impact upon local communities. Currently, the ‘aim to permit’ rule restricts councils’ ability to prohibit the opening of new betting shops and 24-hour slot arcades, but there could be a shake-up.
And Burnham insists the tables must turn. He said: “For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The rise of betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.
“I said I would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do. We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street. Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life.”
Knives sharpened for retail betting
While nothing has been confirmed, it is suggested the ‘aim to permit’ procedure, outlined in the 2005 Gambling Act, could be scrapped. In many respects, this would further complicate matters for retail-first operators looking to expand.
Retail operators have been dealt a tough hand. Last year, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, announced a significant hike in gambling taxes. In April, the remote gambling duty paid on online casino bets surged from 21% of gross gambling yield (GGY) to 40%, while general betting duty paid on online sports bets will rise from 15% of GGY to 25% in April 2027, with horseracing exempt.
More worryingly, the data made available by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) points to a general regression in retail betting. There were 8,995 betting shops in 2015, but this figure dropped to 5,825 in 2025.
The AGCs angle
AGCs have also come under scrutiny, with Burnham seeking to impose greater taxes on them. Intriguingly, it was revealed last week that Betfred were
looking to diversify into the AGC space
as it contends with the break-up of its retail empire. However, under Burnham’s new proposals, this would make it more challenging for Betfred to get the required planning permission to convert shops into AGCs.
Aim to permit plan approved
Although Burnham’s plans have some way to go before they are realised, the Social Market Foundation (SMF), a cross-party think tank, has given its approval to revoke ‘aim to permit’, deeming it a ‘significant and welcome step for local democracy and thriving communities’.
It seems Burnham is undeterred about confronting the retail betting industry head-on. However, whether or not he is forced to rethink his proposals, only time will tell.
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