UK residents are set to have more power over gambling reform. A new government initiative will give residents the chance to vote on the opening of shops in their local high street, according to an article by The Telegraph.
The idea has not yet been announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, but is expected to be announced soon.
Residents will be given the option to vote on the opening of vape shops, gambling shops, and various retail venues opening in their local high streets.
The aim is to give residents control over their local high streets and amenities.
But what will the new guidance look like?
What Will The Guidance Look Like?
Under the expected reform process, residents will be allowed to veto businesses they don’t want in their local high streets. Neighbourhoods will be able to limit the number of shops in the area that fall under these categories. This comes after a surge of these shops has infiltrated UK high streets in the last ten years.
The new reform process aims to combat claims that UK high streets and communities are broken and dying.
Measures are being headed by Steve Reed, the new Communities Secretary, who replaced Angela Rayner after she was fired for underpaying taxes on her Brighton flat.
Reed said that the aim is to give people back their communities and regenerate the areas, to make them successful.
Additionally, the measures are believed to be a response to counter the rise in support for Nigel Farage’s right-wing party Reform UK, which has been vocal about Britain’s economic decline in local communities.
How Will The Reforms Be Implemented?
Later this week, it is expected that Sir Keir Starmer will address the operational process of the voting measures. Also to be addressed will be how local councils and areas can implement these changes to high street businesses.
It is important to note that gambling shops will not be banned due to this power, but the number of them in local high streets is likely to be reduced.
What Does This Mean For Local Betting Shops?
Evidently, if these powers are approved, this will mean local betting shops will take a hit. Furthermore, the UK gambling industry could face a financial decline due to a reduced number of betting shops, but this depends on the significance of the reforms.
Almost every UK high street has a betting shop, so a decline may not even put a dent in the industry. However, if many shops close down at the same time, it could have a larger impact.
For gambling operators, this could make expansion much harder, given that local authorities will have more control over whether they’re allowed in the high street.
Further down the line, this could lead to stricter gambling reform from the UK government, as the UKGC has made several statements calling for a stricter approach to problematic gambling.
However, this could be good for online businesses. If betting shops in the UK start to close rapidly, their customer bases may turn to online gambling, resulting in the growth of the online gambling and casino industry.
Stay tuned for our update on the possible reforms.
