Cllr Shaun Macdonald Leads Surrey Heath’s Support for Gambling Law Reforms
Surrey Heath Borough Council has joined over 40 councils across the UK to demand a change to the current gambling laws. In a joint open letter signed by Surrey Heath, Runnymede and Spelthorne to Lisa Nandy, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Cllr Shaun Macdonald added his voice to those local leaders and other campaign groups to demand six-point reform to the 2005 Gambling Act, stating that it has failed to protect their local communities.
Gambling is a popular activity in the UK, with over 43% of adults recorded to participate in it every month. These players use both land-based and online outlets to carry out their gambling activities. Among the online options, platforms like realraffle.com stand out for offering secure raffle-based gaming experiences. Raffles also level the playing field, as just about anyone can win. No strategy or skill needed. These platforms operate within the guiding regulations of the UK’s Gambling Act, providing a safe, secure and convenient way for gamers to enjoy responsible gaming practices within a digital landscape.
While the Gambling Act of 2005 provides a robust framework to regulate gambling in the UK, this coalition of over 40 councils is fighting for more reforms to the existing legislation and for more power to be given to local councils to regulate gambling operations in local communities. The coalition represents over 12 million people in the UK and is led by Brent Council with endorsements from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Reform.
The coalition rolled out a six-point plan in its call for change. The plan includes a call to reform the “Aim to Permit” policy. This reform will give councils more power to refuse gambling licenses, especially where the council feels it poses a risk to its community’s welfare. It also involves a new mode of categorisation for gambling premises like adult gaming centres and bingo halls to ensure they don’t disregard currently existing caps. It also aims to devolve more funds to local authorities to support education and research, leading to oversight of new statutory levies placed on gambling operators.
The coalition also calls for more power in local debt considerations to help councils protect their streets from being saturated by gambling shops. It adds that there should be an end to the expansion of adult gaming premises, which is in line with experts’ advice on B3 gaming machines and also a total ban on gambling advertisements, to promote responsible gambling.
Cllr Shaun Macdonald added that the Prime Minister made mention of giving local leaders more authority over their respective councils, and this kind of reform is the kind that will ensure change, as it will affect the local areas first. He also added that the main aim of this reform is not to stop people from gambling or remove access to gambling platforms, but rather to create a safer and healthier environment for citizens. The open letter has gotten support from prominent figures like Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and campaign groups like the Coalition to End Gambling Ads and Clean Up Gambling.
Surrey Heath Borough Council is also reviewing its policies to align with the six-point plan. The council updated its Statement of Principles earlier this year by adding a Local Area Profile to help license applicants in carrying out the required risk assessments. By collaborating with other councils and taking a step further in regulating its own rules, Surrey Heath Borough Council is showing its commitment to creating a safe and responsible gaming environment within its community.