Gambling Harms
Councils are declaring gambling harms emergencies and developing new strategies to address the negative consequences of gambling.
Barnet Council declared a gambling harms emergency in October 2026, committing to a new strategy based on local public health evidence. This follows Lambeth's Director of Public Health reporting in September 2026 on multi-faceted efforts, including community engagement and strategic planning, to tackle gambling harms. A joint South East London Gambling Harms Needs Assessment is due to be published, while Haringey's Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel discussed its approach in October 2026.
Local authorities are also reviewing their licensing policies to strengthen protections against gambling-related harm. Barking and Dagenham Council is seeking public input on its revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy for 2026-2029, which aims to address the harms associated with gambling. In February 2026, Wandsworth Council's Licensing Committee approved increases to gambling licence fees, effective from April 2026, to recover the costs of providing the licensing service.
Key facts
- Barnet Council declared a gambling harms emergency on 20 October 2026. Source
- Lambeth's Director of Public Health reported on tackling gambling harms in September 2026. Source
- Barking and Dagenham Council is seeking public input on its 2026-2029 Gambling Licensing Policy. Source
- Wandsworth Council approved gambling licence fee increases in February 2026, effective April 2026. Source
- An estimated 41,250 adults in Lambeth are affected by gambling harms. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. 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 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.