No New Casinos, but Stricter Rules: Lambeth Updates Gambling Policy

_{Lambeth Council focusing on regulatory efforts. (Image: Paul Doyle/Alamy)} 

Lambeth Council has unveiled its updated Statement of Gambling Principles, pledging stronger protections for vulnerable residents as part of its triennial review under the Gambling Act 2005.

Backed by borough-wide consultation, the policy refresh aims to address gambling-related harm by focusing regulatory efforts on those most at risk, including young adults, people with mental health conditions, and those facing debt or homelessness.

What’s Changing and Why It Matters

The updated policy introduces several key changes. Lambeth is reinforcing its Local Area Profile with revised “Gambling Vulnerability Zones,” reducing the number of gambling clusters. This enables the council to assess new licence applications with greater context and caution.

The shift responds to mounting concerns over gambling harms in urban areas, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. 

Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Cllr Mahamed Hashi, said the changes reflect both community input and statutory requirements.

“The refresh reflects consultation feedback and places greater emphasis on reducing gambling-related harm, particularly for vulnerable groups,” Cllr Hashi said in a written response at the Full Council meeting on 21 January. 

He added that the council is also reviewing how it defines vulnerability, aiming to base licensing decisions more closely on lived experiences and evidence-based risk.

No Casino Ban, But a Push for Local Discretion

Notably, the revised policy does not introduce a ban on casinos, nor could it. While Lambeth previously maintained a “no casinos” resolution, the UK Gambling Commission currently prohibits new casino licences in London altogether. Any change would require an act of Parliament.

Local authorities also cannot reject gambling premises based on moral grounds. The Commission’s guidance states that “an authority’s decision cannot be based on dislike of gambling,” and must instead rely on licensing objectives such as preventing harm to children or vulnerable people.

Given these limitations, Cllr Hashi said the council is pursuing a dual strategy: working within current legal powers to reduce harm while pushing for national reforms that would give local councils more control.

“We are concentrating on protections that can be strengthened, within existing legislation, while working with other London councils to press for wider changes to the legislative framework that currently governs the gambling industry,” he said.

The council has joined a London-wide working group advocating for changes to the Gambling Act, including a review of the “aim to permit” principle, which currently obliges local authorities to grant licences unless specific objections can be proven.

Public Health and Partnership at the Core

The updated policy also places greater emphasis on collaboration with public health teams and regulatory services. This joint approach aims to improve scrutiny of gambling licence applications and incorporate public health data into risk assessments.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, councils must promote three licensing objectives: preventing crime, ensuring fairness, and protecting children and vulnerable people. Lambeth’s revisions focus on strengthening the third objective through clearer definitions and better integration of data on gambling harm. Public health advocates have welcomed the move. Planners and businesses continue to battle to maintain a balance between empty high streets and restrictions on numbers of gambling venues.