Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to revoke the Gambling Act's 'aim to permit' duty, a move that would reverse a longstanding presumption in favor of granting gambling licenses. Burnham has opposed the duty for years, and as mayor of Greater Manchester he signed a council coalition letter demanding exactly this change. Parliament passed a narrower fix in April, but the prime minister now intends to go further.
The duty and its critics
The 'aim to permit' duty means licensing authorities must assume they should grant a gambling application unless there's a strong reason not to. Critics say that tilts the process toward operators and makes it harder for councils to reject new venues, even when local communities object.
Burnham's opposition isn't new. Before becoming prime minister, he lobbied against the duty, and during his time as Greater Manchester mayor he put his name to a coalition letter from councils demanding its removal. That letter argued the duty undermines local decision-making and puts the burden of proof on residents rather than the industry.
What Parliament did in April
The April legislation was a narrower fix. It tweaked the duty in specific circumstances but left the core principle intact. That partial approach didn't satisfy Burnham, who has now signaled he wants to strip the duty out of the Gambling Act entirely.
The difference matters. A full revocation would change the default position for every licensing hearing in England and Wales. Councils would no longer start from the assumption that a license should be granted. Instead, they'd weigh each application on its merits, with the operator carrying the burden of showing the venue is appropriate.
What comes next
No timeline has been announced for the revocation, and it's unclear whether the move will require fresh legislation or can be done through secondary powers. The April fix went through Parliament, so a full repeal likely needs another bill or a statutory instrument.
The gambling industry is watching closely. Any change that makes it easier for councils to say no could slow the expansion of betting shops and casinos in areas where local opposition is strong. Supporters of the duty argue it keeps licensing decisions predictable and prevents arbitrary refusals.
Burnham's next step is to lay out the mechanics of the revocation. That could come in a statement to Parliament or in a new piece of legislation. Until then, the 'aim to permit' duty remains on the books, but its days look numbered.
