The Licensing Committee of Lambeth Council is scheduled to consider proposed updates to the borough's Gambling Policy. The committee will review the draft Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029, which aims to update the existing policy and incorporate new data and recommendations.

Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029

The primary focus of the meeting is the proposed revision of Lambeth's Statement of Gambling Principles, also known as the Gambling Policy. This policy is required every three years under the Gambling Act 2005¹ and outlines how the council will exercise its licensing functions related to gambling. The proposed policy for 2026-2029 updates the existing 2022-2025 policy, incorporating legislative changes and recommendations from the Gambling Commission.

Key proposed changes include:

• Removal of the no casino resolution: The council is considering removing the existing resolution that prevents the issuance of casino licences. This is due to current national legislation under Section 175 of the Gambling Act 2005, which limits the number of casino licences that can be granted and restricts which authorities can issue them. Lambeth is not currently authorised to issue such licences, and this position is unlikely to change without an amendment to the Act.
• Updated Local Area Profile: The policy includes an updated Local Area Profile, reflecting new data and revised ward boundaries. This has led to revisions in the designated Gambling Vulnerability Zones and Gambling Premises Clusters within the borough, with the number of clusters reduced from seven to five.
• Inclusion of new appendices: The draft policy incorporates new appendices, including suggested risk assessment templates for applicants and existing licence holders, pointers from the Metropolitan Police Service on effective management and crime prevention, and a summary of public health data on gambling-related harms.

The report highlights that the council has consulted with various responsible authorities and stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Police Service, Public Health, and representatives from the gambling industry. Feedback from this consultation has informed the proposed changes, with some respondents expressing concerns about the length of the document and the potential impact of stricter measures on businesses.

The council's approach to licensing gambling premises aims to balance the promotion of gambling as a legitimate leisure activity with the need to protect children and vulnerable persons from harm, prevent crime and disorder, and ensure gambling is conducted fairly and openly. The updated policy seeks to provide greater clarity for operators and enable more robust decision-making based on local risk factors.