Islington Labour hold one of the strongest anti-gambling harm policies in the UK. We are dedicated to providing pioneering care and support for those who are experiencing gambling harms, to fighting back against gambling premises clustering in local communities, and campaigning nationally to scrap the ‘aim to permit’ principle for gambling licenses.
Since 2024 Islington council has worked with local charities like BetKnowMore to help set up a pioneering gambling support community hub addressing gambling harm, including an accredited outreach support and mentoring programme. Through a partnership with Betknowmore’s GOALS (Gambling Outreach and Living Support) programme Islington Council have delivered:
- 1,474 brief interventions with residents affected by gambling harm
- 63 support hub sessions offering advice, referrals and one‑to‑one help
- 1,814 total engagements since the hub opened in September 2024
Earlier this year, Islington Labour joined a North-London programme, investing £250,000 to tackle gambling harms and reduce the health inequalities linked to gambling. By the end of the two-year programme, the coalition aims to create a proven model and reducing gambling harms toolkit that can be shared with other regions across the country.
Islington Labour have also been active in the campaign to prevent the ‘clustering’ of gambling premises in areas of high deprivation. Last year, Islington council campaigned against the license of a new gambling shop on Caledonian Road.
Islington Labour have also been working with Dawn Butler in Brent on a nationwide campaign to scrap the ‘aim to permit principle’ this included signing a letter to the government calling for it to be scrapped. Our Islington Labour councillors have taken their fight to scrap ‘aim to permit’ far and wide, from the House of Lords, MPs from across Parliament, London-wide working groups, and working to support local charities.
Here at Islington Labour we want our highstreets to represent the best of our communities, with thriving local businesses that operate with the best interests of local people at heart. This cannot happen when they are being overtaken with predatory gambling premises.
What can you do to stop new gambling premises on our highstreets?
If there is a licensing application for a gambling shop in your area, you can make a representation to the licensing committee on the Islington council website. All decisions made by the Licensing committee must be made on a fair case-by-case basis.