Warning of Excessive Streets being ‘flooded’ with slot machines

A recovering playing addict stated he feared excessive streets have been being “flooded” with slot-machine arcades, often known as grownup gaming centres.

Andy May, from Dersingham, Norfolk, who was jailed for stealing £1.3m from his employer to fund a web based playing habit, stated he was involved concerning the enhance within the arcades, a few of which function 24 hours a day.

“It’s like an unstoppable flood at the moment,” stated Mr May, who now works as a restoration coach for different downside gamblers.

British Amusement Catering Trades Association (Bacta), which represents house owners of gaming centres, stated they have been “among the safest places to gamble”.

There are almost 1,500 adult-only gaming centres in Britain, the place gamers can spend as much as £2 per spin to win jackpots of as much as £500.

The charity GambleAware has warned that extra are opening in disadvantaged elements of the nation the place, it stated, persons are “two times more likely to experience gambling harms”.

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council lately known as for extra powers from the federal government to control grownup gaming centres. (ACGs)

There are three in King’s Lynn city centre – no additional than 320m (1,049ft) aside – with a fourth on account of open.

Mr May, who’s now working with Reframe Coaching – a charity which helps downside gamblers – stated he was involved concerning the impact they may have.

“Money is a big thing around that but there’s also a whole load of other mental health impacts that come off the back of that gambling harm,” he stated.

“Relationship breakdowns, potentially job losses – if people are bunking off work to go in the AGC – there could be consequences.

“They appear to be cropping up with none management round them.”

Councils have little control when it comes to licensing venues because of the 2005 Gambling Act.

It requires them to approve gambling licences where the minimum criteria is met, regardless of local community opposition.

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council has joined different native authorities in calling for stronger powers when figuring out such licences.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government was planning to introduce “cumulative influence assessments, like these already in place for alcohol licensing”.

“We will give councils stronger powers over the placement and numbers of playing retailers to assist create secure, thriving excessive streets,” he told the House of Commons.

Bacta president Joseph Cullis denied that AGC operators “intentionally goal deprived areas” and said they “are inclined to open on excessive streets the place there may be already footfall”.

“They are among the many most secure locations to gamble, with skilled employees readily available to determine issues and supply assist to clients.

“Our members operate within one of the most tightly regulated licensing regimes in the world,” he added.

“‘Aim to permit’ does not mean automatic approval – it means councils must assess applications fairly against the licensing objectives in an open, transparent and consultative way, ensuring all sides can be heard.”

Jess Asato MP (Labour, Lowestoft) welcomed the federal government’s plan to take a look at the impact of playing venues.

“I don’t want to see these gambling places proliferating on my high street,” she stated.

James Wild MP (Conservative, North West Norfolk) stated: “I want to see local authorities given powers to look at the cumulative impact. We put it in our white paper on gambling before the election.”

The Reform UK West Northamptonshire Council chief Mark Arnull stated councils wanted extra powers.

“We have limited powers under the planning law as to where we can restrict the number of these [gaming centres] coming in,” he stated.

“It defies logic that you fund organisations to help gambling addiction but can’t stop the core problem [too many gaming venues].”