Lancaster and Wyre MP welcomes new bill that will 'bring gambling closer to alcohol licensing'

Wyre MP Cat Smith has welcomed a new bill that will help control the number of betting shops on the high street.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has received Royal Assent making it easier for councils to prevent new gambling shops opening.

It means that councils can now use the harmful impact of local gambling shops in decisions on whether to allow new ones on the high street – bringing gambling closer to alcohol licensing.

Ms Smith whose constituency covers Lancaster as well as Wyre, said: “This is a significant first step toward delivering on the Government’s pledge to strengthen local control over the concentration of gambling premises, and brings gambling licensing closer to alcohol licensing.

“As a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform, alongside tackling clusters of gambling premises, I'm keen to see tougher measures on gambling advertising, sponsorship and marketing.

“This is especially online in children’s video games - along with ‘influencers’ and ‘content creators’ advertising or promoting gambling on social media or streaming platforms.

Gambling Impact Assesments (GIAs) will empower local councils to reject new betting venue licences, overturning the long-standing “aim to permit” rule, by evaluating local saturation and potential harm.

1.4 million adults suffer with ‘problem gambling’, and £11bn of losses each year go to the gambling companies.

Gambling-related harm in England also costs approximately £1.27bn every year annually; across healthcare, criminal justice and welfare, whilst 3.3 million online gamblers in Britain are in £10,000 of debt on average.

She added: “I was disappointed that The Green Party, Reform, Conservatives and Lib Dems were among those voting against it.”

How else will the Act work?

It will introduce new measures to a new Community Right to Buy, which will give local people the first right of refusal for valued community assets such as shops and community centres when they are put up for sale.

Upwards Only Rent Review clauses in new and renewal commercial leases will also be banned, which previously prevented businesses’ rents from decreasing – even if the market rate decreased – for new commercial rental agreements.

On the roads, the Act introduces new national standards for taxi drivers, allowing enforcement officers to suspend licences issued by other local authorities where a driver is operating outside their licensed area.

More local transport authorities will be given new powers to enforce against dangerous pavement parking including through fixed penalty notices, and there will be new licencing powers for rental e-bikes which will allow local authorities to set specific requirements on parking, safety, and accessibility standards.