Have your say on: Lambeth's draft gambling policy 2019-2022 consultation

We're consulting with our residents, partners, local businesses and community groups on a new approach to gambling regulations. Tell us your thoughts by completing our survey below. The consultation runs from 23 May to 20 June 2019.

We have produced our own local area profile, which assesses the areas most vulnerable to gambling related harm in Lambeth. Current and prospective gambling operators must now produce individual risk assessments, taking into consideration local risk factors and how their gambling operation will mitigate those risks in accordance with the licensing objectives set out in the Gambling Act 2005.

The Council, as the licensing authority, is required to publish a new Statement of Gambling Policy for the borough at least every three years. We are consulting on a draft version of the new policy.

The Statement of Gambling Policy 2019-2022 (‘Gambling Policy’) provides guidance and sets out expectations as to how gambling premises will be managed and regulated in Lambeth. Our current policy was adopted in 2016 and we are now consulting on a proposed new Gambling Policy for the borough. The three-year Policy will take effect from August 2019 onwards, and updates the existing Policy.

The Gambling Policy covers:

• Issuing premises licenses;
• Preliminary approval of proposed premises;
• Regulating gambling premises activities; and
• Receipt and endorsement of Temporary or Occasional Use Notices for infrequent betting and gaming

The way gambling is regulated in the United Kingdom is changing, with more onus on operators to identify risks and set out how they aim to address them. Gambling operator licences are issued by the Gambling Commission, and councils consider applications for new gambling premises, with reference to ways that prospective operators have demonstrated that they understand and are mitigating against gambling-related harm.

What are we proposing?

Lambeth has included, for the first time, a Local Area Profile to accompany the new Gambling Policy for 2019-2022. The Lambeth Local Area Profile assesses locations’ vulnerability to gambling-related harm, by taking into account the latest data on deprivation, public health risks and current locations of gambling establishments.

We are proposing that existing gambling premises operators, and applicants for new licences, must refer to this Local Area Profile to identify any local risks and measures they will put in place to minimise or eradicate them.

This means producing independent risk assessments which can be viewed on request by the Council. The risk assessments should consider the local area, the design and layout of the premises, the gambling operation and the control measures in place to reduce the risk of problem gambling occurring in Lambeth.

Word from Cabinet

Cllr Paul Gadsby, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Housing, who has responsibility for overseeing the Gambling Policy, said: “It is extremely important that we have a tough approach to regulating gambling in our borough and that we use the maximum powers available to us under the law to ensure that our vulnerable residents are protected.”

“We are proposing a range of new regulations and processes for our updated gambling policy that are focused on a thorough analysis of the vulnerability of some of our residents and our areas to possible harmful side effects of gambling. While national legislation does restrict what we can do, we must ensure we have a policy that reflects the values of our borough and that we do our best to protect the most vulnerable among us.

''As a result, we are keen to hear our residents’ views on what they would like to see from their borough’s approach to regulating gambling.”