Local risk assessments requirement for gambling operators comes into force

All land-based gambling operators must set out how they will reduce risks in their local area such as being located near a school or homeless shelter, under new regulations that have come into force this week.

The Gambling Commission said that together with the Local Government Association and licensing authorities, it would work closely over the coming months to make sure that new requirement delivered benefits to consumers.

Rob Burkitt, Policy Development Manager at the Commission, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with our licensing partners to bring in risk assessments.

“Local risk assessments give gambling operators a means to demonstrate how they are conducting or intend to conduct their business in a socially responsible manner.

“We want operators to think local and act local – to work with licensing authorities to ensure gambling is crime free, fair and open and children and vulnerable people are protected.”

Burkitt gave examples of information that might be included on risk assessments. He said: "If there is a gambling premises adjacent to a bus stop which is used by college or school students between, say 3-5 pm, the premises should ensure that staffing levels are adequate to mitigate the risk of underage access.

“If there is a gambling premises close to a homelessness hostel, the operator would ensure they have staff awareness training to ensure that homeless customers are not putting themselves at risk of harm.”

He added that the watchdog was keen to see more employment of technology such as that used in the Geofutures maps research.

“This innovative project explored which groups of people were more likely to be vulnerable to gambling harm and where these different groups of people were located – all invaluable information for conducting risk assessments,” Burkitt suggested.

A Local Government Association spokesperson said: “The LGA strongly supports the introduction of new risk assessments for betting shops and other gambling premises, which will help protect those most at risk of addictive behaviour.

“Each business will have slightly different risks associated with it and different measures already in place, so the final assessments will look different for every premises.

“Many local councils are producing local area risk profiles to assist businesses as they draw up their assessments – these will typically plot points of risk such as schools, treatment centres or areas of significant deprivation.

“We hope that the gambling industry collectively rises to the occasion and demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility and preventing risky gambling behaviour.”