The UK’s high streets are now home to over 300 slot machine adult gaming centres operating around the clock, despite warnings about the risks they pose to vulnerable gamblers. Leading slot machine operators, Merkur and Admiral, have opened dozens of new 24-hour outlets in vacant retail units nationwide over the past few years. These two firms alone operate more than 500 venues across Britain, with the majority now open 24 hours a day.
Despite strong opposition from local residents, council planning committees have been unable to block the applications. Campaigners are now calling for a crackdown on the sector’s expansion. Nick Harvey, from the charity Gambling with Lives, said the rollout of 24-hour slot machine venues had been “under the radar”. He added, “Slots venues contain the most addictive gambling products out there, causing misery to communities while bringing little to no economic benefit to the local area.”
The Association of Directors of Public Health and the Local Government Association have called for new powers for councils to halt the “proliferation” of 24-hour slot machine centres in some towns. This comes as the Gambling Commission prepares to publish its research on gambling harm. Preliminary findings suggest that 2.5 percent of the adult population may be suffering from problem gambling.
The rapid expansion of the sector has raised concerns. At a Greenwich council planning committee meeting, members considered an application for a new 24-hour Merkur Slots centre in Eltham, southeast London. There were more than 60 objections from residents. Labour councillors Lauren Dingsdale and Sammy Backon (above in photo), wrote, “Allowing planning permission for this premises would encourage vulnerable individuals to gamble more than they can afford.”
A former slot machine addict, 62, from Watford, who asked to withhold her name, received a three-year prison sentence in 2020 for stealing £70,000 from her employer to feed her gambling addiction. She said, “I would take a cab from my house to the Merkur [venue] in Watford at 5am. I could easily spend £2,000-£3,000 in a single visit.”
UK’s silent spread of gambling addiction
The slot machines with the biggest payouts are known as B3 machines. These have a maximum stake of £2, but a spin speed for each game of two-and-a-half seconds. It means it is possible to stake hundreds of pounds in hours. One former customer, who asked to remain anonymous, said he turned to slot-machine centres after participating in self-exclusion schemes at betting shops and casinos. He said, “It’s ridiculous to say the £2 limit is any kind of barrier. I lost over £1,000 very quickly.”
The last government proposed loosening the rules for slot machine operators, permitting the use of debit cards on machines and for operators to increase the proportion of B3 machines in arcades and bingo halls from 20 percent to 50 percent. An Observer investigation this year raised questions over the way centres are regulated.
John Bollom, president of the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta), described adult gaming centres as “popular entertainment venues” which are “among the safest places to gamble”. He said customers are supervised by experienced staff “well trained to spot signs of problems and provide support”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it was “committed to reducing gambling-related harm”. The Gambling Commission said councils can impose conditions including reducing hours if gambling is not being provided in a way that is fair and safe. All adult gaming centres must identify customers who may be at risk of experiencing harm and interact with those customers.
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