BOOKMAKERS have urged Bradford Council to drop references to problems caused by gambling from a document that will shape the future of the industry in the district.

The Council will today discuss how it deals with applications for gambling businesses like bookmakers, bingo halls and casinos between now and 2021.

A draft of the new Licensing Principles document for the district updates previous gambling policies by referring to a number of public health issues caused by gambling, including references to a 2016 study by Leeds Becket University into problem gambling.

It includes details on how young gamblers are more likely to develop a gambling addiction, that people from Asian and black communities are more vulnerable to gambling problems and that those on low income spend a higher portion of their income on gambling.

It also mentions that people with substance misuse issues are more likely to become problem gamblers and that there is a strong association between mental ill health and problem gambling.

A consultation into the Council’s new policy was held over the past few weeks.

As part of this, Gosschalks Solicitors, which acts on behalf of the Association of British Bookmakers, wrote to the council raising concerns over many of the references to problem gambling, saying these have “no place” in such a document.

Their letter says: “The commentary in Paragraph 7.10 (a section on how gambling can effect vulnerable people) should be deleted.

“The purpose of the statement of principles is to outline the principles that the Licensing Authority will apply when exercising its functions under Gambling Act 2005.

“One of those functions is to ‘aim to permit’ the use of premises for gambling and to give snapshots of research without a contextual background has no place within the statement of principles.”

The Council’s response maintains that these references should be left in the report: “The information included in these sections has been added at the request of the Council’s Public Health Department.

“It is felt this information is relevant and should be included in the policy.”

The letter from Gosschalks also warns of imposing tougher rules on bookmakers, pointing out that the industry is in decline.

It says: “Any increase in the regulatory burden would severely impact ABB members at a time when overall shop numbers are in decline, and operators are continuing to absorb the impacts of significant recent regulatory change. This includes the increase to 25 per cent of Machine Games Duty, limits to staking over £50 on gaming machines, and planning use class changes which require all new betting shops in England to apply for planning permission.”

Other groups responding to the consultation were Gamcare, which helps gambling addicts. They suggest preventing gambling premises from opening near hostels or places where vulnerable people frequent.

Other parts of the Council’s policies will be updated, including the need to acknowledge social issues in areas future gambling businesses are planning to open in. These include whether the business would be in an area of deprivation, whether the premises is in a high crime area, if there are known problems in the area such as street drinking and drug dealing, and the proximity of churches, mosques, temples or any other place of worship. Opening gambling businesses close to schools, play areas and other places children congregate would be frowned upon.

Earlier this month Bradford was named as one of the “unhealthiest” high streets, partly due to the number of betting shops and takeaways in its city centre.

The Statement of Licensing Principles for the Bradford District 2019-2021 is being discussed by the Council’s Licensing Committee at 10am today. The full Council will vote whether to approve the document next month.