The UK government's decision to repeal the 'aim to permit' licensing principle for gambling premises will require amendments to the Gambling Act 2005, opening the door to broader industry reform.
The 'aim to permit' principle requires local councils to approve licences for gambling premises that comply with Gambling Commission policy and licensing objectives. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the repeal on 11 August, calling betting shops 'a questionable business'. Adult Gaming Centres, which offer round-the-clock access to gaming machines, will now also require planning permission.
Andrew Lyman, Gibraltar's gambling commissioner and former director at the UK Gambling Commission, argues that changing a fundamental principle of the act can only be done through primary legislation. Louisa Clark, an independent consultant and former Gambling Commission manager, confirms that 'aim to permit' is written into the act itself and cannot be repealed by ministerial statement or policy change.
The move carries risk for the industry. The Association of Directors of Public Health has already called for a new Gambling Act based on public health principles, including a ban on gambling advertising. Lyman warns that any change to primary legislation will trigger debate about the government's regulatory approach. What began as a six-week consultation could turn into a lengthy review of the entire act.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities plans to run an accelerated consultation with implementation targeted for January 2027, but experts call that timeline ambitious. Clark stresses that this remains a political ambition, not yet a bill. The industry is particularly concerned about the possibility of revoking existing licences, an idea pushed by reformers. Lyman calls it 'anti-gambling fanaticism' and a threat to the rule of law.
