GAMBLING LICENSING
What could Andy Burnham as PM mean for the UK land-based industry?
Felix Faulkner, associate solicitor for gambling licensing fi rm Poppleston Allen, says that the Aintree native’s appointment could have a large impact on an industry already weakened by severe tax hikes.
ith the resignation of Keir Starmer paving the way for the new Prime Minister, who was sworn into offi ce on 20 July this year, both the country and the gambling industry are asking the question, “What will Andy Burnham mean for us?” When Burnham was in Parliament previously, his views expressed at the time were fairly in line with most politicians’ – in support of gambling reform (most notably, the Gambling Act of 2005). Although he supported the Act, he later became associated with a more cautious approach to gambling expansion.
W 22 AUGUST 2026
Most notably, since becoming mayor of Greater Manchester – a position he held from 2017-2026 – he’s come down pretty hard on the high street, particularly where there were concerns about social harm in deprived communities.
For example, the “aim to permit” mandate of the Gambling Act 2005, given to licensing authorities in determining applications for gambling licensed premises, has recently come under threat due to Dawn Butler’s (MP for Brent North) letter calling for a reversal of the rule on gambling licensing. Burnham was one of the officials who signed this letter,
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