UK Scraps ‘Aim to Permit’ Rule for Betting Shops Despite a Third of Shops Closing Since 2019

The UK government is moving to scrap the “aim to permit” rule that has made it difficult for local councils to block new betting shops, even as roughly a third of Britain’s high-street bookmakers have already shut their doors since 2019. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the reform this week, framing it as a way to hand local authorities real power over what opens on their high streets after decades of what he called “hollowed out” town centers.

The “aim to permit” rule dates back to the Gambling Act 2005, introduced during Tony Blair’s government, and effectively created a presumption in favor of granting licenses to betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades whenever an application met basic licensing requirements. Councils have long complained the rule left them with little say over the clustering of gambling premises on their streets, regardless of local objections.

What the reform actually changes

Under the new plan, local authorities in Great Britain will be able to reject new betting shop and adult gaming centre applications outright, rather than being bound to approve them absent a specific licensing failure. Adult gaming centres offering round-the-clock access to slot and fruit machines will now require planning approval as well. The government has paired the betting shop changes with a broader crackdown on vape retailers, who will also need planning permission before opening, with a tightened legal definition designed to stop shops from dodging the rules by branding themselves as general convenience stores.

A fast-tracked six-week consultation is expected to begin shortly, with officials targeting the start of 2027 for the new rules to take effect. Burnham, who as mayor of Manchester previously co-signed a letter from a coalition of local councils pushing for exactly this kind of reform, said the goal is to put “local people back in control” of their high streets. He was blunt in his public comments, describing betting shops and vape shops alike as “dodgy businesses” that have replaced the community spaces residents actually want.

An industry pushing back against the closure narrative

The Betting and Gaming Council welcomed the broader push to give councils more say but disputed the idea that betting shops are proliferating unchecked. A BGC spokesperson noted that shop numbers have fallen by more than a third since 2019, with around 3,000 locations closed and over 15,000 jobs lost in that span, arguing licensed, regulated bookmakers shouldn’t be lumped in with “rogue or criminal businesses.” The trade body pointed out that the remaining retail betting estate still supports roughly 37,500 jobs and drives foot traffic to neighboring high-street businesses.

That closure trend has continued into this year. Betfred announced plans to shut 132 UK shops and cut more than 600 jobs, a move its CEO tied directly to the impact of the UK’s Remote Gambling Duty increase alongside rising employer National Insurance contributions and wage inflation. Evoke closed 200 William Hill locations earlier this year for similar reasons, and Entain trimmed its Ladbrokes footprint in Ireland after a planned sale fell through. Compliance consultants have also pushed back on the government’s framing, noting the sector generates roughly £4 billion in UK tax revenue and has been part of the high street since the 1960s.

What comes next

The Local Government Association has backed the reform as a “positive step” for councils working to revitalize struggling town centers, though local government representatives and industry voices alike have cautioned that planning powers alone won’t reverse the broader decline of the British high street. With official consultation expected to move quickly, operators and local authorities will spend the coming months adjusting to a licensing landscape that finally gives councils the leverage they’ve been asking for since the rule was first written two decades ago.

For US bettors watching how other markets balance access with local control, understanding where sports betting is legal state by state remains just as relevant, as regulatory shifts continue to shape how and where operators can do business.