Social Market Foundation
Councils were debating national gambling reform in late 2025, with some supporting recommendations from the Social Market Foundation.
In December 2025, Kingston upon Thames Council was set to debate a motion supporting national gambling reform, highlighting concerns about outdated legislation like the Aim to Permit rule in the Gambling Act 2005. Waltham Forest Council was also scheduled to debate a motion in December 2025, calling for urgent reforms to tackle gambling harms and restore decision-making powers to local authorities, joining a coalition of over 40 councils.
Hounslow Council voted in November 2025 to back national gambling reform, recognising the social and economic consequences of addiction. The council resolved to support the six recommendations outlined in a report by the Social Market Foundation, a UK-based think tank, and joined a coalition of local authorities advocating for changes to gambling laws.
There are no further council meetings currently scheduled to discuss the Social Market Foundation's recommendations or gambling reform. The Social Market Foundation is an independent British political public policy think-tank that publishes research reports on social and economic issues.
Key facts
- Kingston Council was set to debate a motion supporting national gambling reform in December 2025. Source
- Waltham Forest Council was scheduled to debate a motion on gambling harms in December 2025. Source
- Waltham Forest Council was asked to join a coalition of over 40 local authorities. Source
- Hounslow Council voted to support six recommendations from the Social Market Foundation's report in November 2025. Source
- Hounslow Council resolved to join a coalition of local authorities advocating for gambling law changes in November 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.