Prime Minister Announces Shift in Gambling Licensing Powers to Local Authorities

On 11 August 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the repeal of the ‘aim to permit’ licensing principle contained in the 2005 Gambling Act, and this move transfers greater authority to local councils when they consider applications for betting shops and adult gaming centres.

The longstanding principle directed licensing authorities to aim to permit gambling premises unless specific objections applied, yet the new approach removes that directive and requires planning permission for such venues alongside the existing licensing process.

Details of the Policy Change

Under the announcement, councils receive expanded discretion to approve or restrict gambling premises based on local conditions, and operators must now secure planning consent before proceeding with new or modified sites. This dual requirement combines licensing and planning frameworks that previously operated more separately under the 2005 Act.

Betting shops and adult gaming centres fall directly within the scope of these adjustments, which means applicants face additional layers of review at the local level. Observers note that councils can weigh community impact factors more prominently when evaluating proposals.

Legislative Requirements and Next Steps

Experts have indicated that implementing the repeal will require primary legislation to amend the 2005 Gambling Act, since the current statutory language embeds the ‘aim to permit’ approach. Secondary regulations alone cannot achieve the full scope of the intended change.

The process of drafting and passing new primary legislation typically involves parliamentary scrutiny, committee review, and multiple readings, and this timeline could extend several months before the policy takes full effect. Once enacted, the amendments would formalise the expanded role for local planning authorities.

Some analysts suggest the reforms could serve as a foundation for broader updates to gambling regulation, although the announcement itself focuses specifically on licensing and planning procedures for premises.

Impact on Gambling Premises Operations

Existing betting shops and adult gaming centres continue to operate under current licences until any new rules apply, yet future applications or variations will encounter the revised framework. Operators may need to prepare additional documentation addressing both licensing and planning criteria simultaneously.

Local councils gain tools to align gambling venue decisions with wider town planning strategies, such as zoning restrictions or cumulative impact assessments, and this integration reflects a shift toward more localised control over the physical presence of gambling facilities.

Those who have followed similar policy adjustments in other sectors point out that combining licensing and planning reviews often lengthens approval timelines, and businesses in the gambling sector may adjust their expansion strategies accordingly.

Background on the 2005 Gambling Act

The 2005 Gambling Act established the modern regulatory structure for gambling in Great Britain, including the creation of the licensing regime for premises and the codification of the ‘aim to permit’ principle. That framework has governed decisions on betting shops, casinos, and gaming centres for more than two decades.

By targeting only the licensing principle for repeal, the August 2026 announcement leaves other elements of the Act intact while opening the possibility that future legislation could address additional areas. Primary legislation remains the required vehicle for any statutory modification of this nature.

Conclusion

The announcement by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on 11 August 2026 marks a defined change in how local councils will evaluate gambling premises applications, and the requirement for primary legislation sets the procedural path ahead. Planning permission now joins the licensing process as a standard condition for betting shops and adult gaming centres, giving councils additional levers in their decision-making. The move stays confined to this specific adjustment within the 2005 Gambling Act framework, wth implementation dependent on parliamentary action in the coming period.