Government Introduces New Gambling Licensing Powers for Local Authorities

The Government has introduced a significant amendment to gambling licensing during the Report Stage of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in the House of Lords, signalling a potential shift in how new premises applications are assessed.

Amendment 305, brought forward late yesterday evening, creates a new power for local authorities to develop so-called “gambling impact assessments”. These would enable councils to identify specific areas where they believe additional gambling premises could undermine the licensing objectives, and adopt policies that create a presumption against granting new licences in those locations.

In practical terms, the amendment represents a departure from the current “aim to permit” principle. In areas covered by such assessments, the burden would instead fall on operators to demonstrate why their application meets the licensing objectives.

Bacta has been actively engaging with Government and industry partners in response to the proposal over the past two weeks. This has included meetings with officials from DCMS and MHCLG, direct discussions with Ministers, and the commissioning of independent legal advice.

The association also worked with partners to propose an alternative amendment aimed at achieving the Government’s objectives while maintaining greater alignment with the existing licensing framework. However, this was not adopted, with Government proceeding with its own drafting, which it believes reflects the direction set out in the Gambling Review White Paper.

Importantly for operators, officials have indicated that implementation will not be immediate. During discussions with DCMS, it was confirmed that further work will be undertaken before the provisions come into force, with other reforms—such as those relating to bingo licensing—expected to be progressed first.

Officials also emphasised that industry stakeholders, including Bacta, will be involved in shaping the statutory guidance that will underpin how these powers are applied in practice.

Commenting on the development, Joseph Cullis said:

“We recognise the Government’s intention to ensure that licensing decisions reflect local circumstances, but it is essential that any new framework remains proportionate, evidence-based and consistent with the principles that underpin the existing system.

“Our focus now is on working closely with DCMS and the Gambling Commission to ensure that these proposals are implemented in a way that is fair, transparent and workable for responsible operators.”

While decisions will continue to be taken on a case-by-case basis, the introduction of local impact assessments could significantly influence how authorities approach applications in future.

Bacta has confirmed it will continue to engage urgently with DCMS and the Gambling Commission, with a focus on ensuring a consistent evidential threshold for local assessments, protecting the integrity of the current licensing framework, and avoiding unintended consequences for compliant businesses.

Members are encouraged to share any concerns or examples of how the proposed changes could affect their operations as discussions continue.

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16 April 2026

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