UK Government Set to Shift Gambling Licensing Authority Back to Local Councils

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the government plans to revoke section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005, the so-called “aim to permit” provision that has shaped licensing decisions for gambling premises across England and Wales since its introduction nearly two decades ago, and the move is expected to restore greater discretion to local authorities when they evaluate applications for new betting shops and slot machine venues.

The announcement, delivered in August 2026, signals a clear policy pivot that will allow councils to weigh community objections more directly without the statutory presumption in favour of approval that has governed proceedings since 2005, and observers note this change aligns with growing calls from local representatives who have argued that existing rules limited their ability to respond to resident concerns about clustering of gambling outlets in high streets and residential areas.

Background to the “Aim to Permit” Requirement

Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005 established that licensing authorities must “aim to permit” gambling premises applications provided they meet the statutory objectives of preventing crime, ensuring fairness, and protecting the vulnerable, yet critics of the framework have long maintained that this wording created a default position favouring operators even when local evidence pointed to saturation or social harm, and data from earlier years showed a steady rise in betting shop numbers in certain urban districts before later consolidation reduced overall premises counts.

Those who have tracked licensing outcomes over the years point out that the provision effectively required authorities to start from a position of approval unless clear grounds for refusal existed, whereas the proposed revocation would neutralise that starting point and place all applications on a more neutral footing where councils can consider cumulative impact and resident representations without the previous statutory tilt.

Details of the Proposed Reforms

Under the new approach, licensing authorities will no longer operate under an explicit duty to aim to permit gambling facilities, which means they can refuse applications for betting shops, 24-hour adult gaming centres and similar venues on broader grounds that reflect local circumstances and community feedback, and the government has indicated that parallel planning reforms will tighten rules governing adult gaming centres in England to ensure consistency between licensing and land-use decisions.

The measures are scheduled to come into force at teh beginning of 2027, giving local councils and operators a transition period during which existing applications will continue under current rules while new guidance is prepared, and officials have confirmed that the changes will apply across England with separate consideration for Scotland and Wales where licensing frameworks differ slightly.

Impact on Local Decision-Making

Councils that have previously cited difficulties in rejecting applications due to the “aim to permit” language will gain clearer authority to refuse premises where evidence of harm or over-concentration exists, and this shift is expected to affect high-profile cases involving 24-hour slot venues that have drawn sustained opposition from residents and community groups in several cities, while operators will need to present stronger arguments demonstrating compliance with licensing objectives without the benefit of the former presumption.

Those who have studied the evolution of gambling regulation note that the change reverses a key element introduced in 2005 to create a more permissive environment for the industry following earlier restrictions, and the reversal comes at a time when local authorities have reported increased engagement from residents on planning and licensing matters related to gambling outlets.

Timeline and Implementation Path

The government has stated that secondary legislation and updated guidance will be published ahead of the 2027 commencement date, allowing licensing committees and operators time to adapt procedures and prepare submissions under the revised framework, and the Gambling Commission has been asked to support the transition by reviewing its own advice to local authorities on how the removal of the “aim to permit” duty should be applied in practice.

Applications submitted before the new rules take effect will be determined under the existing statutory test, which means operators seeking to open premises in the coming months retain the current advantages while those planning later openings will face the updated process once it is in force.

Conclusion

The revocation of section 153 represents a structural adjustment to the licensing landscape that has remained largely unchanged since the 2005 Act came into force, and the forthcoming implementation in early 2027 will mark the first significant rebalancing of power between national legislation and local decision-making in this area for nearly twenty years, with both councils and industry participants now preparing for the practical effects of the altered regime.