Council leaders call for urgent Govt action to tackle gambling harms

Government action is vital to tackle the harmful consequences of gambling, a coalition of local councils has warned.

In a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, over 30 Council leaders in Great Britain said the rapid increase of gambling venues in their areas was negatively affecting public health and fuelling a rise in crime and disorder.

According to recent correspondence seen by The Guardian, Nandy has paused plans to allow the proliferation of high-stake gambling machines on the high street over “concerns about the strength of protections for vulnerable people in the adult gaming centre sector”.

Social harms

Council leaders told the Culture Secretary that some communities were witnessing “a groundswell of land-based gambling operators, spreading along our high streets and seemingly targeting areas of higher deprivation in a bid to maximise profits”.

The letter stated: “The harmful consequences of gambling are well-documented and have been linked to a range of social and public health issues, including suicidality, depression, anxiety, and financial ruin.

“Research has demonstrated that these social and public health issues are often exacerbated in areas with high numbers of gambling premises.

“In addition to these social and public health issues, a study by Ealing Council outlined the increase in crime and disorder associated with the saturation of gambling premises, contributing to a visible deterioration of our high streets”.

Preventative measures

The letter urged the Government to adopt a number of proposals for the sake of “the health of local communities”.

The Council leaders asked for powers to reject applications to open gambling venues, to allow them consider the likely impact of planning applications for high street casinos on local household debt, and to “prevent the proliferation of gambling dens in close proximity to schools”.

The signatories also called for an overhaul of gambling advertising, for local funding to address gambling harms, and for a review of “spin speed and excess staking levels” associated with category B3 slots.

Pause for thought

Shortly after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) received the letter from local Councillors, The Guardian reported that the Government had paused plans to allow the proliferation of high-stake gambling machines across Britain.

According to correspondence seen by the newspaper, the DCMS said it would not change regulations on betting machines “this year” due to “concerns about the strength of protections for vulnerable people in the adult gaming centre sector”.

Currently, under the “80/20 rule”, only 20 per cent of slot machines in adult gaming centres can be category B3, which have maximum stakes of £2 with prizes up to £500. The remaining 80 per cent must only allow stakes of up to £1 with £100 prizes.

Iain Duncan Smith, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform, welcomed the pause for thought. He observed: “Given the insufficient protections in place for people in these venues and the addictive nature of these machines, increasing their numbers should be ruled out entirely”.