Waltham Forest Council is set to debate a Labour Group motion on gambling harms, calling for urgent reforms to tackle the issue and restore decision-making powers to local authorities. The motion is scheduled for discussion at the Council meeting on 11 December 2025, according to the agenda frontsheet.

The council is being asked to join a coalition of over 40 other local authorities, led by Brent Council, that have written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport calling for urgent reforms to tackle the harms caused by gambling and to restore decision-making powers to local authorities.

The motion is part of a larger meeting agenda that includes discussions on council tax support, fees and charges, smoke control orders, and the Corporate Parenting Board annual report.

The Labour Group Motion on Gambling Harms highlights the growing national issue of gambling addiction and its serious social and economic implications. Citing Public Health England, the motion notes that the estimated annual cost to society now exceeds £1 billion.

The motion also points out that gambling harms extend far beyond the individual, affecting families, public services, and communities, particularly in areas of socio-economic deprivation. It expresses concern over the proliferation of betting shops, adult gaming centres, and casinos along high streets, and the powerlessness of local authorities to stop it due to outdated legislation.

Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005, which enshrines the 'Aim to Permit' principle, requires councils to approve gambling licenses where minimum criteria are met, regardless of local community opposition or concerns over public health, crime, or social impact, the motion states.

The motion calls for Waltham Forest Council to:

  • Join the coalition of over 40 other local authorities calling for urgent reforms to tackle the harms caused by gambling and to restore decision-making powers to local authorities.
  • Support the Social Market Foundation's Six Recommendations for Gambling Reform, which call on the Government to:
    • Grant greater licensing powers to local authorities, including the ability to carry out cumulative impact assessments for gambling premises.
    • Include Directors of Public Health in the gambling licensing process, just as they are for alcohol licensing, ensuring public health is at the heart of local decisionmaking.
    • Review the current premises licence classifications, particularly where Adult Gaming Centres operate under bingo licences, to close loopholes.
    • Increase the cap on annual licence fees for gambling premises from £1,000 to at least £2,000 and require annual reviews so that fees reflect the true cost of enforcement and regulation.
    • Clarify the balance of responsibilities between local authorities and the Gambling Commission on enforcement and inspection, ensuring accountability and local capacity.
    • Review and ultimately remove the 'Aim to Permit' rule from the Gambling Act, restoring genuine local democratic control over gambling premises.
  • Write to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and other relevant government departments expressing support for these proposals and urging immediate legislative reform.
  • Join and promote the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) and support the campaign to end gambling advertising across the Transport for London network.
  • Work with anchor institutions and local health and voluntary sector partners to raise awareness of gambling harms and signpost residents to addiction support and education initiatives.
  • Use the new Local Plan to assess proposals for new betting shops with regards to existing clusters, proximity to areas of deprivation, health impacts and implications for community safety, crime and anti-social behaviour.