Barking and Dagenham Council Revises Gambling Policy to Prioritise Harm Prevention in Deprived Areas
SCCG Take — The policy requires new licence applicants to address specific local risks in deprived zones. September 3 debate will clarify how far councils can push harm reduction within current statutory limits.
Barking and Dagenham Council intends to revise its gambling policy to place more emphasis on preventing harm and improving public health. The updated framework prioritises protection for areas experiencing high deprivation, according to reporting by Focus Gaming News.
Council figures show there are currently 42 betting shops, adult gaming centres and bingo halls in the borough, with 11 concentrated in Barking town centre and five around Heathway in Dagenham. The draft policy describes Barking town centre as having high levels of poverty and the highest crime rate in the borough, while Heathway is labelled one of its most impoverished areas.
An online consultation attracted 14 responses. These revealed a significant level of concern about the number of betting shops within the borough. One resident commented: “Barking is one of the poorest boroughs in London, one of the most deprived boroughs, one of the boroughs that claims the most benefits, yet everywhere you go in Barking, you see gambling stores. You can’t go 100 metres without coming across a gambling shop, and it’s all being placed there because they know Barking’s one of the poorest boroughs.” Other respondents urged the council to stop granting new licences or shut existing shops.
Betting and Gaming Council Response
The Betting and Gaming Council, represented by law firm Gosschalks, argued that betting shops play a positive role in local economies. Its submission stated: “Betting shops alone support 42,000 jobs on the UK’s hard-pressed high streets, contributing £800million a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60million in business rates to local councils.” It added that the “overwhelming majority” of gamblers “do so perfectly safely and responsibly.”
Council leaders insist they want the policy to strike the right balance between supporting the economy and entertainment while protecting residents from gambling harm. Applicants for new licences must demonstrate how they will mitigate local risks associated with gambling premises, particularly in areas experiencing higher levels of deprivation.
The council acknowledged that, while the aim-to-permit rule remains in place, it can only refuse a licence if granting it would undermine statutory objectives. The revised policy will be debated at the licensing and regulatory committee meeting scheduled for September 3.
Reporting: Focus Gaming News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Barking shows how UK councils are using local risk assessments to slow retail expansion without breaching aim-to-permit rules.
We track every regulatory shift that changes the cost of market entry. This policy won't stop licences outright, but it raises the bar — operators need local risk mitigation plans tied to deprivation data. That means smarter site selection, community engagement, and compliance strategy before you apply. September 3 will show how far other councils follow.
- 42 gambling premises in borough; 11 clustered in Barking centre, a high-poverty, high-crime zone
- New applicants must show how they mitigate local risks in deprived areas; aim-to-permit still applies
- BGC argues betting shops support 42,000 UK jobs and £800m in tax; residents cite saturation
SCCG angle: SCCG helps operators entering or expanding in UK retail by connecting you to compliance advisors, community relations specialists, and local government affairs experts who know how to build risk mitigation plans that satisfy councils like Barking without stalling your timeline. We have worked every UK regulated market and know the playbook.
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