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.
The panel showed a split in opinion on how far reforms should go, with Labour MP Dawn Butler arguing the GIAs don’t go far enough and that the government should prioritize eliminating “aim to permit” entirely.
Foxcroft also shared plans to tighten bingo licensing rules, after Labour MP Alex Ballinger raised concerns that some bingo halls are starting to operate more like adult gaming centers. CEGA director Will Prochaska pushed back on the idea that more evidence is needed before tightening gambling rules.
The panel discussion came shortly after a separate government consultation on banning unlicensed gambling operators from sponsoring UK sports clubs closed on September 9.
