The British government has announced that local councils are to be given more powers to decide whether more UK betting shops should open in their individual constituencies.

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC said the new measures would enable councils to refuse planning application if they are concerned about the number of shops in their local area.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport explained that local authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the “clustering” of betting shops in some areas and the new measures would help to counter the situation.

However, bookmakers have previously said that the number of shops has remained relatively static for the past decade.

The move forms part of a review of gambling policy in the UK, which is due to be announced by the government later this week.

The Government said it is keen to give local communities a “proper voice on the issue so that their views are taken into account when plans for a new betting shop are submitted”.

Under the current regulations, planning applications are not always required for new betting shops to open with bookmakers able to move into premises left empty by businesses considered to be in the same category, such as banks and estate agents.

However, the new changes will place bookmakers in a different class so that councils are able to consider such applications.

The government will also make it mandatory for gambling operators to show how they would comply with measures to protect players when they apply for a licence.

Plans are also in place to introduce further measures to help protect people that play fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). Read more about the situation with UK betting shops at iGaming Business.