UK Gambling Minister signals “aim to permit” review

Foxcroft raised the review during a panel discussion organized by the Coalition to End Gambling Advertising (CEGA) and the think tank More in Common, as the “aim to permit” principle currently pushes local councils to approve gambling license applications by default unless there’s clear evidence of harm. Any changes could end up replacing Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs), a newer tool that became law at the end of April 2026 under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, giving councils more room to reject licenses in areas that are already full of betting shops and gaming venues.