English councils could gain greater control over new betting shops and other gambling premises, but neither of the Government’s planned measures was fully in force by 29 August 2026.

On 11 August 2026, the Government said it intended to revoke the Gambling Act 2005’s “aim to permit” principle. It said a consultation would take place before legislation. No final bill or implementation date has been published.

What could change

The “aim to permit” principle currently requires licensing authorities to consider gambling applications on the basis that permission should generally be granted. Applications must still be consistent with the licensing objectives, official guidance and the council’s own policy.

The Government said removing the principle would give councils more scope to reject new betting shops and 24-hour gaming venues when local concerns are supported by evidence. It presented the proposal as part of a wider plan to reshape England’s high streets.

The Government has not clarified whether the reform would affect only councils or also the Gambling Commission. The planned amendment could cover the council licensing duty in Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005. It is not clear whether it would also affect the separate duty placed on the Gambling Commission by Section 22.

New impact assessments are already in law

Section 87 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, creates gambling impact assessments.

These assessments will allow an English licensing authority to identify areas where additional gambling premises may be inconsistent with one or more licensing objectives because of cumulative impact or other evidence-based local risks.

  • The assessment must set out the evidence supporting the council’s view.
  • It may apply to all relevant licences or only to specific types, including betting premises licences or adult gaming centres.
  • The council must consult before publishing, revising or withdrawing an assessment.
  • A summary must be included in the authority’s three-year gambling policy.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said on 7 July 2026 that the provisions would not be brought into force until the required guidance was ready. It expected them to be operational by the end of 2026, but had not set a confirmed commencement date.

Brent highlights the evidence challenge

Research published by iGaming Business on 28 August 2026 found that Brent had 75 gambling premises listed in its licensing database. The publication said council licensing data showed that the borough had not granted a new betting shop licence for 13 years.

Greater legal powers will not remove the need for detailed, current evidence. Councils will still need to show why a proposed licence could conflict with the statutory licensing objectives.

The same analysis reported that Brent had 83 gambling premises recorded in January 2025, compared with 75 in its later database. It also said 124 of Britain’s 350 licensing authorities carried out no gambling licence inspections during the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

That evidence gap could become more significant when councils begin using gambling impact assessments. Policies based on cumulative harm will depend on reliable inspection records, local crime data, public health evidence and clear links to the licensing objectives.

What changes for operators and players

The measures do not immediately close existing betting shops. They mainly concern future premises licence applications and the evidence councils can use when assessing them.

Existing operators in Great Britain remain subject to Gambling Commission regulation and local premises licensing. The proposed removal of the “aim to permit” principle is not yet final law. The new impact assessment provisions also require commencement regulations and guidance.

The statutory mechanism applies to English licensing authorities. Northern Ireland operates under a separate gambling framework. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have their own legal and licensing systems.

For the British betting sector, the immediate consequence is uncertainty. Councils have been promised greater control, but the Government must still define the legal amendment, publish its consultation, issue guidance and confirm when the impact assessment provisions will begin.