Barking and Dagenham Council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee has reviewed and approved a revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy, aiming to strengthen protections against gambling-related harm.
The updated policy, set to cover 2026-2029, incorporates feedback from a public consultation and was discussed at a meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The policy's core objectives remain to prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, ensure it is conducted fairly and openly, and crucially, protect children and vulnerable persons from harm.
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham currently regulates 42 gambling premises, including 36 betting premises other than tracks, 3 adult gaming centres, and 3 bingo premises. Nationally, the number of betting shops is in decline, with a 29% fall since March 2019, equating to 2,373 closures in five years.
During the meeting, Councillor Shamsul Azam raised concerns about the number of consultation responses and sought clarity on specific actions planned to reduce gambling harm. Nick Howard, Environmental Health Service Manager, explained that 16 responses were typical for such a policy. Beyond building an evidence base and reviewing the prevalence of gambling premises, planned actions include a wider partnership approach involving engagement with schools and youth services. The council will also carry out further risk-focused activity looking at individual hotspot locations, school locations, and vulnerable service locations. Powers also exist for authorities to consider large clustering of gambling premises close to vulnerable locations, such as schools.
Estimates based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) suggest that in Barking and Dagenham, 13,713 people demonstrate low risk gambling, 7,406 demonstrate moderate risk gambling, and 6,342 demonstrate problem gambling. The fiscal cost of gambling-related harm to public services in Barking and Dagenham was estimated at £2,194,228 in 2024.
Councillor Julia Williams raised concerns regarding the policy's wording, specifically questioning why it stated applicants would be expected to demonstrate how they will be 'reasonably consistent' with licensing objectives rather than simply 'consistent'. She also inquired about the specific meaning of the word 'promote' in the context of the policy. Additionally, she asked about the potential impact of a government announcement on August 11th regarding the 'aim to permit' policy and whether this would necessitate a review of the current policy in the new year. Mr. Howard clarified that the wording is based on statutory guidance and that any government changes would be monitored.
Monitoring of policy objectives will occur through the scrutiny of applications, contact with licensed entities, and follow-up to complaints or proactive inspections. Proactive inspections will be conducted on a risk-based approach, with premises assessed based on 'the type and location of the premises, the past operating history of the operator, the confidence in management, or the arrangements in place consistent with the licensing objectives.' Higher-risk premises will be inspected more frequently than lower-risk premises.
The public consultation received 16 responses, with the majority supporting the draft policy. However, 50% of respondents felt the policy did not go far enough to protect children and vulnerable people, and many expressed concern about the number of betting shops in the borough. Amendments were made to the draft policy to reflect points raised by Public Health and the Betting and Gaming Council.
Following the committee's consideration, the revised policy would then proceed to Cabinet and then to the General Assembly for final adoption.
Public reports pack Thursday 03-Sep-2026 19.00 Licensing and Regulatory Committee.pdf Agenda frontsheet Thursday 03-Sep-2026 19.00 Licensing and Regulatory Committee.pdf