London Borough Now Awash With Adult Gaming Centres
It is dubbed the “Las Vegas of Britain” but Councillors at the London Borough of Brent are far from happy.
Merkur Slots has applied to open a second outlet in Neasdon, North London. © Getty Images
Key Facts:
- Brent’s residents are unhappy with what is happening in Harlesden
- Councillors point out overconcentration of gambling venues as a major threat to locals
- Poorest areas of the UK seem most preferable for gambling
The London Borough of Brent may be best known for landmarks such as Wembley Stadium and the Swaminarayan Temple. However, one of its major districts, Harlesden, has recently been dubbed the “Las Vegas of Britain”.
Like its American counterpart, this gambling hotspot is growing. It appears few of Brent’s residents are happy about the Borough’s newfound status, stating the infestation of Adult Gaming Centres – the technical description given by the 2005 Gambling Act to town and city centre located slot machine lounges – “support addiction and destroy lives”.
An assessment published by Brent Council last year showed there were 81 gambling venues in the Borough. Unlike Las Vegas, these venues are not housed in luxurious-themed hotels. Instead, they are operating within retail shopping units.
The Over Concentration of Casinos and Gaming Centres
Controversially, in October, Brent Council’s planning committee approved a proposal to open a new adult gaming centre in Harlesden town centre because it was forced to adhere to national policy guidelines.
Six gambling shops – described as “engines of misery” by Ward Councillor Jumbo Chan – were already operating within a 600-metre stretch of the town. Chan spoke against the application, claiming there is already an “overconcentration” of casinos, gaming centres and gambling facilities in the area.
He added: “This is greatly harmful for not only our residents and local businesses but, more importantly, the very vulnerable people who live in Harlesden and are likely to frequent these particular establishments”.
Despite the concerns voiced by Councillors, planning committee members voted in favour of the new venue. Committee member Councillor Robert Johnson explained that if the application was rejected, it would likely be overturned on appeal – with costs being awarded against the Council – as it met local and national planning guidelines.
Former Bank Plans to Become Gambling Centre
This week, residents in a second Brent district, Neasdon, learned the Council has received a new application for another arcade-style adult gaming centre. The latest request is for a premise, formerly a Santander bank branch, situated near a school bus stop on 265 Neasdon Lane, to be converted into a Merkur Slots.
The proximity to the school bus stop heightens fears of the adult gaming centre appealing to children and attracting younger adults. Merkur Slots, which boasts 230 local casino outlets in the UK, already operates a site at 304 Neasden Lane and others in the Wembley, Willesden, and Harlesden Brent towns.
The German-owned Merkur Slots appeared armed and ready for any objections, stating in its application that the venues are ‘strictly adult only’ and the shop frontage ‘obscures the interior’ with no advertising depicting images ‘that may appeal to children’.
Its document also states that staff are given training and guidance on dealing with vulnerability, are also aware of the ‘importance of social responsibility’, meaning they can advise customers on gambling responsibility and identify any potential harm.
Poorest Area Most Popular for Gambling
Interestingly, Merkur Slots’ application also states: “Whilst the premises may be near or in an area of relative deprivation, Merkur Slots takes the view that individual customers must be treated holistically”.
Like Willesden and Harlesden, Neasden is classed as an area with medium to high levels of deprivation by Brent Council. Studies by the University of Bristol have shown that a fifth of all gambling sites in the UK are now found in the poorest areas of the country.
Betting shops, run by brands such as William Hill and Coral, are ten times more likely to be found in poorer areas of the UK than wealthy towns. Last year, the University of Bristol said there “is evidence that gambling harms may be exacerbated by living within areas of higher deprivation”.
Councillor Asks for Closure of Gambling Bypass
Nevertheless, Brent Council may be unable to reject the latest application as, once again, the new business would satisfy local and national planning guidelines.
Following the approval of the latest adult gaming centre in Harlesden, Council Leader Muhammed Butt wrote to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, urging the government to tighten planning laws around gambling shops.
He said national guidelines should stipulate that bingo halls and adult gaming centres are in the same planning category as traditional bookmakers. The move would prevent applicants from bypassing a 3% cap on such venues by splitting premises between categories.
Councillor Butt also stated his belief that local authorities should be given the power to reject premises licence applications that “threaten the community’s welfare and safety”.
