Pod Save the UK Does the UK have a gambling problem? Out and about w/ Dawn Butler
Aug 21, 2025
Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent Central, is on a mission to tackle the growing number of betting shops that are draining communities of £4.6 billion annually. As she navigates the streets of Willesden, she speaks to local residents about the urgent need for reform of the Gambling Act. With her sights set on future political ambitions, Butler emphasizes the health and economic impacts of gambling. The conversation also touches on Labour's current challenges, social media struggles, and the generational divide in political language.
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Scale Of Gambling Harms
- The UK gambling sector took a record £11.5bn in a year, averaging £166 per person after winnings are paid out.
- NHS estimates gambling harms cost at least £1.27bn annually, revealing a large public-health burden.
Inside An Adult Gaming Centre
- Coco and Dawn entered an adult gaming centre and felt it was like an arcade designed to take money quickly.
- They stopped after losing small amounts and described the machines as fast, skillless and addictive.
Aim-To-Permit Restricts Councils
- The Gambling Act 2005 contains an 'aim to permit' clause that greatly limits councils' ability to refuse gambling premises.
- Councils often have more control over fast-food outlets than gambling shops, constraining local democracy.