Gambling Commission to consult “in due course” on Gambling Impact Assessment guidance

The Government has said the Gambling Commission will consult “in due course” on guidance relating to the introduction of Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs), a key new tool intended to give local authorities greater influence over the concentration of gambling premises in their areas.

Responding to a written parliamentary question from Labour MP Alex Ballinger, Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross confirmed that the Commission is working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to develop guidance for licensing authorities on the use of GIAs. The guidance will be subject to consultation before being finalised.

The minister said the guidance would help councils implement the new powers “using robust evidence to inform meaningful consultation with communities, operators and stakeholders prior to any GIA being implemented”.

GIAs are being introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act and are designed to allow licensing authorities to identify areas where there is evidence that additional gambling premises could exacerbate local harms. Once adopted as part of a council’s statement of gambling policy, a GIA could create a presumption against granting new premises licences within the affected area.

The move represents a significant shift in the balance between the Gambling Act 2005’s longstanding “aim to permit” licensing framework and growing calls from local authorities for stronger powers to address the cumulative impact of gambling businesses on vulnerable communities.