SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
UK bookmakers have asked the government to review planned proposals that would require retail betting operators to apply for council planning permissions when opening up new high street retail branches.
Under current classifications betting shops are classed under the same bracket as financial services and estate agents. UK retail betting operators currently are not required to apply to councils for special opening permissions.
However growing political concerns regarding retail betting shops and public access to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), has resulted in UK Parliament members demanding that the government review its public policy with regards to high street bookmaker openings and operations.
New proposals drafted and put forward to government officials will ask bookmakers to prove to local councils that there is a need for a new betting shop within the applied for area.
The Labour Party stated last week that it fully supported the new proposals, in order to protect the general public from bookmaker influences. Labour officials deemed that the government needed to classify bookmakers in the same category as high street pay day lenders and adult entertainment centres.
UK bookmakers have criticised the proposals stating that its detailing on new policies with regards to the opening of new retail betting stores are too board in definition and favour local councils in judgement and context of allowing new retail betting branches to operate.
