Tower Hamlets Council has approved a revised Statement of Gambling Policy for 2025-2028, setting out how the council will regulate gambling activities within the borough.
The policy, which was adopted at a council meeting on Wednesday, 8 October, aims to balance permitting gambling activities with protecting vulnerable individuals from harm. It includes measures to prevent underage gambling, ensure fair and open practices, and address crime and disorder related to gambling.
Currently, Tower Hamlets has 45 active gambling premises licenses, comprising 38 betting shops and 7 Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs).
The council agreed to maintain its current 'no casino' resolution, which is permitted under Section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005. This decision, initially made by the Full Council on 18th September 2013 and reaffirmed in previous revisions, followed consultations with residents and businesses where the council resolved not to issue casino premises licences. The decision can be found here.
The revised Statement of Gambling Policy 2025-2028 includes several key provisions:
- Protecting Vulnerable Individuals: The policy emphasizes the protection of children and vulnerable individuals from being harmed or exploited by gambling. It outlines measures to prevent underage gambling and address crime and disorder related to gambling activities.
- Local Area Risk Assessments: Applicants for gambling licenses are required to conduct local area risk assessments, taking into account factors such as the proximity to schools, community centers, and areas with high concentrations of vulnerable individuals. These assessments must demonstrate how the applicant will mitigate potential risks to the licensing objectives.
- 'Think 25' Policy: Licence holders are expected to operate a 'Think 25' age verification policy, challenging individuals who appear to be under the age of 25 to provide identification.
- Collaboration with Public Health: The council intends to work with Public Health to strengthen and improve information in relation to Local Area Profiles, assisting licence holders in completing their local area risk assessments.
During the consultation process, Public Health submitted a response supporting the reviewed policy. Public Health noted that gambling related harms mirror social and health inequalities, disproportionately affecting economically and socially disadvantaged groups. Public Health also recommended that the policy state that betting shops should not be allowed to open in areas of clustering, and that the policy include a recommendation to protect staff and lone working. However, the council noted that it was limited in its powers relating to gambling licensing, and therefore could not incorporate these recommendations into the policy. The council's response to Public Health's recommendations is detailed in Appendix Four.
The council is restricted in its ability to implement cumulative impact assessments to restrict gambling licenses in areas with high saturation, unlike the powers available under the Licensing Act 2003.
Several maps were included in the Public Reports Pack for the meeting, including this map showing the index of multiple deprivation and location of betting/gambling outlets:
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The council approved the adoption of the revised Gambling Policy and agreed to maintain its current 'no casino' resolution.
