North London Demands Gambling Reforms to Tackle Community Harm
Senior council figures from Brent are set to testify before the UK Parliament, calling for comprehensive reforms to address the social and public health challenges posed by gambling proliferation.
Gambling Goes to Parliament
As gambling harms grow, Brent Council in North London leaders will present their case to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Harms on 10th December. The session, chaired by Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, will press for more powers for local authorities to tackle gambling’s harm on communities.
Brent Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Milli Patel, and Planning Committee Chair, Councillor Matt Kelcher, will speak about the impact gambling has on local communities. Their evidence will highlight the issues Brent faces, particularly in Harlesden which has been dubbed the “Las Vegas of Britain” due to the high concentration of gambling venues in the area.
Reform of the Law
In September, Brent Council voted unanimously for a motion on gambling related harm. This was followed by a letter from Patel and Kelcher to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy outlining six reforms. These are:
- Allowing councils to refuse gambling applications deemed to be harmful.
- Taking local debt into account in licensing decisions.
- Banning gambling ads to reduce exposure.
Patel called the existing Gambling Act “ancient” and said we need to give more power back to local authorities and communities. She welcomed the government’s recent move to introduce a statutory levy on gambling profits to fund research and treatment but said more needs to be done to protect vulnerable people.
Councillor Kelcher pointed out the public health problems associated with gambling such as depression, anxiety, financial instability and even suicidality. He said local councils need to be able to act quickly to tackle these harms.
