IoL Gambling Conference 2026

A new government amendment would give licensing authorities statutory powers to introduce gambling impact assessments—marking a significant shift from cumulative impact tools under the Licensing Act 2003. This emerging policy, alongside other key developments, will be examined at the IoL’s upcoming gambling conference.

The Impact of Gambling Impact Assessments

A government amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has been tabled that would give licensing authorities new statutory powers to introduce gambling impact assessments for their areas.

At first sight, this may appear to be familiar ground – anyone working within the Licensing Act 2003 will be familiar with the cumulative impact assessments under Section 5A of the 2003 Act.

Will gambling impact assessments work in the same way? There are some stark differences already apparent. 

Licensing authorities will be able to publish a gambling impact assessment, containing a statement that they consider granting further relevant licences is not likely to be reasonably consistent with one or more of the licensing objectives because of either the cumulative impact of relevant licences in the area or for other reasons relating to the objectives or the area in question.

The authority will need to consult, and any assessment must set out the evidence for the authority’s opinion. It must then keep the statement under review ‘from time to time…’

What will be the impact of a gambling impact assessment?  It will be ‘…lawful for the licensing authority to reject the application solely on the ground that the prospective licence is within the scope of the gambling impact assessment…’, unless the applicant asserts (and can evidence) that the grant of the licence will be ‘… reasonably consistent with the licensing objective or objectives to which the gambling impact assessment relates…’

 If it is approved the new measure will have a significant impact and fundamentally change the “aim to permit” principle in section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005.

We look forward to discussing this in more detail at the IoL’s Gambling Conference on 28^th April, so come and join in the discussion! 

Practical Sessions

The programme at the IoL’s Gambling Conference on 28^th April will include discussion panels from local authority, industry and legal experts. In addition, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand some of the products on view at the wider event (the Amusement & Retail Entertainment (ARE) Expo) involving practical demonstrations of the technology and safer gambling tools used in land-based gambling premises including:

• Age estimation technology
• Data recording systems for customer interaction, self-exclusion and a vast range of other data that is available for licensing authorities to access
• Cash handling security systems
• Bingo technology
• A demonstration of safer gambling tools used in gaming machines

The Gambling Business Group will also be providing workshops. There is one immediately following the conclusion of the Gambling Conference which will focus on the use of Facial Recognition Technology for Self-Exclusion.  Everyone is welcome and we hope to see many of you there!