Barnet Council has declared a gambling harms emergency, committing to a new strategy to tackle the issue across the borough.
The council voted to declare the emergency at a meeting on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, recognising the significant financial, health, and social costs associated with gambling addiction. This declaration signals a commitment to a joined-up approach involving licensing, planning, public health, community safety, schools, debt advice, and resident support services.
Barnet Council declared the emergency based on local public health evidence
that identified the financial, health, and social costs of gambling harm, including its links to debt, poor mental health, family breakdown, crime, and inequality. The council also noted the visible concentration of betting shops and adult gaming centres in some of our most deprived communities.
Barnet Public Health believes this constitutes a gambling harms emergency and is working on a local health needs assessment funded from the Gambling Levy to support this.
Councillor Alison Moore, who moved the motion, stated that the current and growing extent of harm caused by gambling to individuals, their families, and communities is a public health and community safety issue. She highlighted that this is particularly prevalent in deprived areas with a high concentration of betting shops and gaming centres.
Barnet Council will now develop a comprehensive Gambling Harms Strategy
that will set out a joined-up approach across licensing, planning, public health, community safety, schools, debt advice and resident support services.
The council also welcomed the introduction of Gambling Impact Assessments and urged the government to implement them promptly.
Additionally, Barnet Council will review its advertising and sponsorship policies to prevent the normalisation or promotion of gambling.
Furthermore, Barnet Council will write to the Gambling Commission to challenge its perceived hands-off
approach to local licensing. The council advocates for greater influence for community and elected representatives in decisions about gambling premises. Specifically, Barnet Council stated, We need stronger licensing powers and enforcement, greater health oversight and an end to the outdated aim to permit.
The council also pledged to continue working with national campaigns for a new Gambling Act that prioritises public health, aiming to put public health first in future legislation.
The motion was passed by 30 votes to 29, with one abstention.
Read the full Public reports pack for the meeting here: Public reports pack 20th-Oct-2026 19.00 Council.pdf