New Gambling Shop Powers
English councils are set to receive stronger powers over gambling premises after the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.
The new law will introduce Gambling Impact Assessments, giving local authorities a clearer route to challenge new gambling premises where they believe further licences would conflict with Gambling Act licensing objectives.
The powers could apply to betting shops, bingo premises, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres. Councils will need to base any assessment on evidence, consult before publishing or revising it, and include it in their licensing policy before using it to support refusals.
New Local Licensing Tool
The measure is not an automatic ban on new gambling venues. Instead, it gives councils a formal way to consider the cumulative impact of gambling premises in specific areas.
Where a Gambling Impact Assessment is in place, a council may reject an application because the proposed premises falls within its scope. Applicants will still be able to argue that the licence would be consistent with the relevant licensing objectives.
UKGC Guidance To Follow
The Gambling Commission has said it expects to work with DCMS on guidance for licensing authorities, operators and other stakeholders. That guidance is expected to cover evidence, consultation and how the new powers should be applied in practice.
The change adds another local layer to gambling regulation in England. Premises-based gambling businesses already need a local premises licence, alongside an operating licence from the Gambling Commission.
For councils, the new system offers a way to respond to concerns about the concentration or location of gambling venues. For operators, it means future high-street applications may face closer scrutiny where local evidence has been published.
The practical impact will depend on how councils use the powers once guidance is issued and local assessments are developed. Until then, the change should be seen as a new regulatory tool rather than an immediate reshaping of the high street.
