I hosted a London Gambling Harms Roundtable at City Hall, in partnership with the charity Betknowmore UK. The statistics are frankly shocking: London’s gambling harm rate is nearly double the national average, affecting a staggering 5.6% of Londoners. We cannot ignore this public health crisis, especially when it disproportionately hits our most vulnerable communities. It was a crucial step to bring together campaigners, health experts, and local politicians to look this problem in the eye and forge a unified strategy to reduce the devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities across the capital. Brent Labour and Dawn Butler MP have been doing some fantastic work on this issue.
A key message that resonated throughout the room was the need for councils to have greater power to stop the saturation of betting shops on our high streets—especially in poorer neighbourhoods, which have ten times more shops than wealthier areas. Beyond planning powers, we focused on implementing a full public health approach that prioritises prevention, ensures early intervention, and guarantees access to specialist support. Furthermore, with the new statutory levy on the gambling industry looming, we explored how we can ensure this funding is stable and effectively channelled into the research, prevention, and treatment services London desperately needs.
I’m incredibly optimistic about the concrete steps we agreed on moving forward. I’m pleased that the local authority representatives present committed to forming a London Action Group with Betknowmore UK. This group will be instrumental in sharing best practices, allowing councils to learn from each other and make meaningful local changes within their existing powers to push back against gambling harms. London is on the frontline of this crisis, and we cannot afford to sit back. The industry must take greater responsibility, and by uniting our leaders, experts, and public health partners, we are now better positioned to demand the action our communities deserve.
At Labour Party conference I had the opportunity to meet with the Minister with responsibility for this policy area Baroness Fiona Twycross alongside Betknowmore UK and discuss the impact of gambling harms on our communities and about Health Committee recommendations from City Hall on the issue.
