Councils are bracing themselves for an influx of betting shops, months after new legislation came into effect. Under the Gambling Act 2005, which became law in September, councils can only reject applications for betting shops if they are able to prove the operator is not ‘fit and proper', unfair to punters, or putting children or other vulnerable people at risk. Some chains of betting shops, such as Betterbet and Paddy Power, are now drawing up expansion plans to open more branches, under the new regulations. Betterbet currently has 25 branches in London, but wants to increase that to 200. A spokesman for Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) said: ‘Some councils are concerned about an increase of new betting offices. It may prove difficult for them to refuse an application. ‘Councils must aim to permit the use of premises for gambling when they consider it meets the Gambling Commission's codes of practice and guidance, where it's reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives and in accordance with the council's statement of principles,' said the spokesman.
