British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has dealt a big blow to high street betting shops with a pledge to revoke the Aim to Permit rule around gambling licensing.
A large number of UK local governments have been calling for the Aim to Permit rule to be scrapped for some time, and Burnham has been sympathetic to these calls.
As reported by the BBC, the PM said that “the rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for”.
The government will scrap the Aim to Permit rule, a licensing standard under the 2005 Gambling Act which requires councils to lean more towards approving a gambling venue’s licensing application rather than opposing it.
Aim to Permit will be scrapped throughout the whole of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has its own gambling legislation dating back to the 1980s, and the 2005 Gambling Act and Aim to Permit rule does not apply there.
Downing Street will also establish new rules for adult gaming centres (AGCs) – 24 hour venues operating slot machines. AGCs will be subject to new planning permission requirements, though this will only be in England.
According to the Gambling Commission, there were 8,234 types of gambling establishments on the UK high street as of 31 March 2025, a reduction of 1.1% from the year prior and down from 12,207 in 2011.
This is split between 5,825 betting shops, 1,415 AGCs, 684 bingo halls, 169 family entertainment centres (e.g. seaside arcades) and 141 casinos.
Reactions flood in
Burnham’s stated aim is to revitalise the British high street and give local people greater control over business in their areas.
It also comes after a BBC investigation revealed criminal activities like drug dealing at a number of high street shops, particularly vape shops and convenience shops.
Unsurprisingly, the policy has been met with scepticism by some, including the Conservative and Reform parties, which both claim that Burnham’s plans will lead to more empty units on British high-streets.
A spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the trade body for UK betting and gaming, told SBC News: “We support tough action against criminal operators and agree local people should have a proper say over their high streets. But the suggestion that betting shops are spreading unchecked is simply wrong.
“Betting shop numbers have fallen by over a third since 2019. Around 3,000 shops have closed and over 15,000 jobs have already been lost.
“It is wrong to lump highly regulated, licensed betting shops together with rogue or criminal businesses. Betting shops still support 37,500 jobs, bring vital footfall to neighbouring businesses and, for many customers, are valued community hubs.
“The real threat to Britain’s hard-pressed high streets is more empty units and fewer local jobs, not businesses rooted in the communities they serve.”
In expected contrast to the BGC, Burnham’s policy has been praised by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), a think tank vocally critical of the gambling sector and its societal impact.
The SMF has been calling for a reversal of Aim to Permit for some time, while also being a notable voice in favour of higher taxes in both 2025 and 2026.
“This is a significant and welcome step for local democracy and thriving communities,” said Jamie Gollings, the SMF’s Deputy Research Director
“Councils know their high streets better than anyone, yet the ‘aim to permit’ rule has meant they’ve had very little real say over what opens on them.
“Our research made clear that these venues are proliferating in the poorest communities, are linked to anti-social behaviour, and often fail the basic tests of fairness and harm prevention set out in the Gambling Act itself.
“Today’s announcement is exactly what we called for and it puts decision-making back where it belongs – with the councils and communities who have to live with the consequences.”
Burnham putting “communities in control”
The announcement comes just two weeks after Burnham revealed that plans for a revitalisation of the British high street were under development.
Vape shops and AGCs were key targets of this, while the PM also set out plans to give much needed relief to the pub and hospitality sector.
Although not officially confirmed yet, Burnham has been considering whether to pay for a business rate cut for pubs and music venues by increasing rates on vape shops and AGCs.
It was unclear at the time whether the hypothetical business rate increase would also affect betting shops. However, this week’s Aim to Permit announcement will affect both types of venue.
“We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street,” Burnham remarked.
The Aim to Permit rule has been on the ropes for a while, admittedly.
In addition to the 38 local governments, including Burnham’s Greater Manchester government, which called for the rule’s reversal, Labour MP for Brent Dawn Butler has also been vocally campaigning against it.
The rule found itself mentioned in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill during House of Lords discussions. The bill was subsequently voted through by the House of Commons, and includes a commitment to amending the Gambling Act review to remove the Aim to Permit rule.
Burnham clearly wants to speed things up, however. And with it will undoubtedly come a lot of unease among the British retail betting sector, with the news coming soon after the revelation that Betfred will close one-tenth of its high street presence.
