Lambeth Council has adopted a new Statement of Principles for Gambling for 2026-2029, which includes the removal of a previous No Casino
resolution. The decision was made during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
Councillors Ben Curtis and Martin Abrams of the Liberal Democrat and Green groups respectively, voiced concerns about the removal of the No Casino
clause. Mr. Curtis argued that it removed a safeguard against future casino applications, stating, this removal was a mistake, arguing it removed a safeguard against future casino applications.
Mr. Abrams echoed these concerns, noting public support for the clause.
However, Councillor Dr. Mahamed Hashi of the Labour group explained that the removal aligned the council's policy with current national legislation, which prohibits new casino licences in London. He added that the revised approach aims to strengthen protections for vulnerable residents.
The adopted policy does encourage applicants operating overnight to contact local gambling support groups, includes updated local area profiles, and incorporates pointers from the Metropolitan Police Service.
Strengthened Protections for Vulnerable Residents
Beyond encouraging overnight operators to contact support groups, the revised gambling policy aimed to strengthen protections for vulnerable residents
. This includes recognizing that vulnerability to gambling-related harm can be shaped by local social and economic conditions and the interaction of multiple risk factors. Examples provided include young adults, individuals experiencing financial hardship, those with mental health or substance misuse challenges, and those in insecure employment patterns. Additionally, suggested risk assessment templates for existing licence holders and applicants
have been added to the policy, and Public Health data around gambling-related harms
has been included to provide further context.
Updated Local Area Profiles and Police Pointers
The Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029
includes updated local area profiles
. A revision to the Gambling Vulnerability Zones
within Appendix 4 of the Draft Gambling Policy Statement indicates a change in how these profiles are presented or what they contain compared to previous versions.
The policy also incorporates Pointers from the Metropolitan Police Service to applicants and existing premises around effective management and crime prevention.
Encouraging Contact with Support Groups
The adopted policy encourages
applicants proposing to operate between 22:00 and 10:00 (overnight
) to contact local gambling support groups to identify and mitigate risks. The meeting information does not specify any consequences for failing to do so.
Legislative Alignment
The removal of the No Casino
resolution was to align the Council's policy with current national legislation, which does not permit new casino licenses in London. Councillor Dr. Mahamed Hashi explained this change was to align with the existing legal framework and that the revised approach aimed to strengthen protections for vulnerable residents. While not explicitly stating specific incidents or trends, the context suggests a re-evaluation driven by legislative alignment and a continued focus on protecting vulnerable residents from gambling harms.
Further details on the council's decision-making process and the full policy can be found in the Public reports pack.
