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According to reports in the UK press, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce reforms that will give locals the power to refuse gambling venues opening within their residential areas.
On Monday, The Telegraph stated that the initiative led by Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed was part of a major policy shift over planning rules aimed at giving locals “greater control over their local high streets.”
Target retailers include vape shops, Turkish barbers, American candy stores, and gambling venues. Instead of outright bans, the new rules purportedly will give residents the chance to deny any firm operating in the targeted categories from setting up shop in their locales.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) reacted strongly to the news, stating that regulated sportsbooks contribute £6.8bn annually to the economy and generate £4bn in tax revenue.
direct jobs for 46,000 people in local communities
The trade body said betting shops provide direct jobs for 46,000 people in local communities, while the industry “supports a total of 109,000 jobs nationwide.”
“Betting shops are far more than just places to have a flutter: they are community hubs, economic drivers, and a vital part of the high street’s future,” read the BGC statement.
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