Gambling minister signals imminent review of ‘aim to permit’ licensing objective

A government consultation on the future of the gambling licensing system could be launched shortly, according to comments made by Vicky Foxcroft, the UK Gambling Minister, during a fringe panel discussion hosted by the Coalition to End Gambling Advertising (CEGA) and More in Common.

Speaking at the event, Foxcroft said that a consultation on revoking the long-standing “aim to permit” licensing objective would be “starting very shortly”, although she did not provide a timetable for its publication.

The comments were first reported by Aim-to-permit consultation starting ‘very shortly’ says UK gambling minister, published by Next.io and subsequently reported by other gambling trade media.

The “aim to permit” principle, contained within the Gambling Act 2005, requires licensing authorities to approach gambling premises applications on the basis that they should be permitted, provided they are reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives and other statutory requirements. Any move to remove or substantially amend the objective would represent a significant shift in gambling licensing policy and could provide local authorities with greater discretion when determining applications.

The issue will be familiar to licensing practitioners. Earlier this year, the Institute of Licensing reported on the Prime Minister’s announcement of proposed new powers for councils to tackle clusters of betting shops and other high-street premises, including plans to scrap the “aim to permit” rule. At the time, the Government said the reforms would help local authorities better reflect community concerns when considering gambling licence applications.

According to reports of the CEGA panel discussion, the proposed review could ultimately supersede recent Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs), introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. The assessments are intended to give councils greater scope to consider local circumstances, including areas with a high concentration of gambling premises, when making licensing decisions.

The panel also highlighted differing views on the future regulatory framework. Dawn Butler MP reportedly argued that GIAs do not go far enough and that reform of the “aim to permit” objective should be prioritised, while Joseph Cullis, President of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association, described the assessments as a pragmatic middle ground between retaining the current regime and abolishing the objective altogether.

No formal consultation document has yet been published, but the Minister’s comments suggest that further details on the Government’s intentions for gambling premises licensing may emerge in the coming weeks.