Gambling Statement of Principles agreed

At Cabinet on Monday 2 March, councillors agreed an updated Gambling Statement of Principles and No Casino Resolution for Hastings. 

The Statement of Principles promotes the three licencing objectives:  

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime;  
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way;
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling. 

The updated statement also includes a Local Area Profile for the first time, which maps local risks and identifies vulnerable communities and can be used to inform decision-making regarding gambling premises. 

Cllrs Glenn Haffenden and Julia Hilton, leader and deputy leader of the council, have also signed a letter to the government along with more than 35 other councils calling for an urgent reform of gambling laws.  

The letter calls for six changes to the law: 

1. Reforming the 'Aim to Permit' policy: to grant councils the power to reject gambling license applications when they pose risks to community welfare;
2. A new categorisation of gambling premises: ensuring venues like bingo halls and adult gaming centres cannot bypass existing caps by splitting premises;
3. Local debt considerations in planning applications: giving councils greater say in protecting high streets from saturation by gambling establishments;
4. Greater oversight of the new statutory levy on gambling operators: with funding devolved to local health authorities for research, education, and treatment;
5. A comprehensive ban on gambling advertising: particularly to safeguard children and young people;
6. An end to proposals that would expand Adult Gaming Centres: in line with external recommendations on harmful B3 machines. 

Councillors will be following up with a further letter after the government announced plans to give councils more powers to control the number of betting shops and allow councils to bring in cumulative impact controls similar to those available for licensing alcohol. 

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, leader of the council and lead councillor for licensing, said: “I’m pleased we were able to agree the updated statement of principles, but we believe we should be able to go further with these restrictions. We need the ability to refuse licences where there is clear evidence of harm. This is not about banning gambling outright, it is about making sure communities have the tools to create safer, healthier environments for everyone.” 

You can view the updated policy online.