The Licensing Committee of Lambeth Council met on Friday 16 January 2026 to discuss proposed changes to the council's Statement of Gambling Principles for 2026-2029. The primary focus of the meeting was the review and potential adoption of this updated policy, which outlines how the council will exercise its responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005.

Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029

The main item scheduled for discussion was the proposed Lambeth Statement of Principles for Gambling 2026-2029¹. This document is a statutory requirement, reviewed every three years, to set out how Lambeth Council, as a Licensing Authority, will administer its functions under the Gambling Act 2005². The report pack indicated that the existing policy (2022-2025) had been reviewed in light of legislative changes and recommendations from the Gambling Commission.

Key proposed changes to the policy included:

• Removal of the no casino resolution: The report pack suggested removing the existing resolution under Section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005 that prevents the council from issuing casino licences. It was noted that this removal would not automatically permit a casino to open due to national restrictions under Section 175 of the Act³.
• Updated Local Area Profile: The Local Area Profile, which identifies areas vulnerable to gambling-related harms, has been updated. This has led to revisions in the designated Gambling Vulnerability Zones for the borough.
• Revised Gambling Clusters: The number of identified Gambling Premises Clusters, areas where three or more gambling premises are located within 400 metres, has been reduced from seven to five.
• Incorporation of Public Health Data: New public health data concerning gambling-related harms has been included to provide further context on local impacts.
• Metropolitan Police Service Pointers: The policy now includes guidance from the Metropolitan Police Service for applicants and existing premises on effective management and crime prevention.
• Risk Assessment Templates: Suggested templates for risk assessments for both existing licence holders and new applicants have been introduced.

The report pack detailed that the draft policy had undergone local consultation with various Responsible Authorities and other stakeholders. The recommendations from the Licensing Committee were to be forwarded to the full Council for formal adoption.