Brent is drawing up a plan to tackle gambling harms in a borough where some areas have more betting shops than supermarkets.
Brent Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board has endorsed the new draft strategy, which will now go to the Cabinet for final approval.
The strategy acknowledges that Brent has higher rates of gambling and gambling-related harm than the national and London averages. The economic cost of gambling in the borough was estimated at £14.3 million in 2022, more than seven times the £2 million estimated in 2012. Brent also has one of the highest numbers of gambling premises in London.
Developed with input from residents with lived experience, partners and experts, the strategy focuses on four key priorities:
- Raising awareness and driving change: This involves borough-wide communications and educational campaigns to inform residents about the harms of gambling and where to seek help. It also includes continued advocacy for stronger government legislation and local powers.
- Embedding a data-led approach: the council will build a robust local evidence base on gambling harms to guide interventions and support, and to strengthen its position when considering planning and licensing applications for gambling premises.
- Regulation, planning and enforcement: The strategy aims to make robust use of the council's planning, licensing, and enforcement powers to reduce the number and impact of gambling venues.
- Improving pathways to support: This priority focuses on strengthening processes for early identification of individuals at risk of gambling harm and ensuring clearer, more effective pathways to support are available.
During the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting, it was noted that Brent has been a leader in lobbying the government for greater powers to control gambling venues. These efforts contributed to the government's announcement in August 2026 to revoke the 'aim to permit' rule, giving councils more power to refuse new gambling premises, and to require planning permission for Adult Gaming Centres.
A council officer described the stories told by residents with lived experience of gambling harms as 'really powerful', and these stories have directly informed the strategy's priorities. These insights are crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of the interventions and support systems being developed.
The strategy will be presented to Cabinet on 7 December 2026, for approval. Funding for the strategy has been secured for 2026/27 through a public health grant from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, but the allocation for 2027/28 is not yet confirmed.
