Hillingdon Council is set to review the presence of gambling machines at Heathrow Airport, following a request made during a Licensing Committee meeting on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. The council aims to assess the impact of these machines, considering its commitment to responsible regulation.
The committee, chaired by Councillor Darran Davies, discussed a range of licensing issues. As part of this discussion, the committee requested a review of gambling machines at Heathrow Airport. While the exact number of gambling machines at Heathrow Airport was not disclosed in the meeting information, the council's review will include examining the history of these machines located airside at the airport.
To assess the impact, the council has requested details regarding the number of legal cases initiated and completed within the past 24 months related to gambling at the airport, along with information on any cases that may not have been captured. This data will be used to inform the council's decision-making process.
The Printed minutes 08th-Oct-2025 10.00 Licensing Committee show that over the last five years, the Licensing Sub-Committee had considered 55 applications.
The request came during a broader discussion of updates to the Gambling Act 2005, including the introduction of the Gambling Levy Regulations, new stake limits for online slot games, and the formation of a local authority coalition advocating for greater control over gambling premises. Hillingdon Council's recent motion to join this coalition was highlighted, reflecting its commitment to responsible regulation.
The meeting information highlights Hillingdon Council's commitment to responsible regulation by noting its motion to join a local authority coalition advocating for greater control over gambling premises. However, it does not explicitly state how the presence of gambling machines at Heathrow Airport aligns with this commitment.
The Public reports pack 08th-Oct-2025 10.00 Licensing Committee provides further details on the agenda item regarding gambling machines at Heathrow Airport.
