To all the betting shops littering our high streets: people power is coming and the odds are against you | Dawn Butler

<p>Too many shops are blighting too many communities. With the rule change I fought for now on the horizon, ordinary people can fight back </p><p>How much gambling do you want in your high street? Are you happy with all the betting shops, the problems they cause, the effect on your environment?</p><p>It’s worth asking because for years, local councils have been expected to say yes to new gambling venues, even when communities made clear they did not want them. Now, under <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/10/burnham-to-give-councils-more-powers-to-block-vape-and-betting-shops">new rules announced on Monday</a>, that’s about to change. And about time.</p><p>Dawn Butler is the Labour MP for Brent East</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/11/betting-shops-high-streets-people-power-dawn-butler">Continue reading...</a>