Fears grow over rise in ‘discreet’ all-night slots arcades in UK | UK News

More than 300 adult gaming centres with slot machines are operating 24 hours a day on Britain’s high streets, despite warnings about the risks they pose to vulnerable gamblers.

In recent years, two of the biggest slot machine operators – Merkur and Admiral – have opened dozens of new 24-hour outlets in empty retail premises across the country. The two companies operate more than 500 locations across Britain, most of which are now open 24 hours a day.

In many cases, local residents have vigorously opposed the opening of the venues, but city council planning committees have failed to block the applications. Campaigners are now calling for a crackdown on the sector’s expansion.

Nick Harvey, of the charity Gambling with Lives, which supports families bereaved by gambling suicides, said the rollout of 24-hour slot machines had flown “under the radar”. Campaigners want new powers to be given to councils considering applications for cumulative gambling impact assessments.

Harvey said: “Gaming arcades contain the most addictive gambling products in existence, causing misery to communities while providing little or no economic benefit to the local area.”

This weekend, in response to Observer The Association of Directors of Public Health and the Local Government Association have called for new powers for councils to stop the “proliferation” of 24-hour slot machine centres in some towns, according to figures.

Concerns over the rapid expansion of the sector come as the Gambling Commission is set to publish its research into the harms of gambling this week. Preliminary findings published last year found that 2.5% of the adult population may suffer from gambling problems. The commission had previously estimated that the proportion of people with a gambling problem was much lower, at 0.3% of adults in Britain.

At a meeting of Greenwich Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, members considered an application to open a new 24-hour Merkur slots centre in Eltham, south-east London. More than 60 residents objected, as did an open letter from Labour councillors Lauren Dingsdale and Sammy Backon, who wrote: “Granting planning permission for these premises would encourage vulnerable people to gamble more than they can afford.”

Separately, one officer wrote that he had seen several police reports of customers at Merkur locations “criminally damaging gaming machines after losing money and, in some cases, threatening and/or assaulting staff.”

The councillors rejected the request, but Merkur has already lodged an appeal because the local authority failed to make a decision within the statutory eight-week deadline.

Merkur operates 24-hour slot machine arcades across the UK. The company, founded by German businessman and slot tycoon Paul Gauselmann, grew its revenue by 17% last year to £202m.

Former slot machine addict Tracey, 62, from Watford, who asked to give only her first name, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2020 for stealing £70,000 from her employer to feed her gambling addiction.

“I would take a taxi from my house to the Merkur [venue] “I’m in Watford at 5am,” she said. “I could easily spend £2,000 to £3,000 in one visit.” Tracey, who now counsels other addicts, said: “There’s no duty of care. You become a preferred client because you’re no longer in control.”

The slots with the highest payouts are known as B3 machines. These have a maximum bet of £2, but a spin speed of two and a half seconds per game. This means that it is possible to bet hundreds of pounds in a matter of hours.

One former customer, who asked not to be named, said he turned to slots after participating in self-exclusion schemes at betting shops and casinos. “I went to a number of Admiral and Merkur rooms last year,” he said. “It’s ridiculous to say that the £2 limit is some kind of barrier. I lost over £1,000 very quickly.”

The last government proposed relaxing the rules for slot machine operators, allowing debit cards to be used on machines and increasing the proportion of B3 machines in gaming and bingo halls from 20% to 50%. Observer This year’s investigation raised questions about how the centres are regulated.

John Bollom, chairman of the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta), described adult gaming centres as “popular entertainment venues” that are “among the safest places to gamble”. He said customers are supervised by experienced staff who are “well trained to spot signs of trouble and provide assistance”.

He added: “The gaming machines in these establishments are low stakes and highly regulated by the Gambling Commission, and strict age controls are enforced. [The centres] are a valuable part of the high street and a vital part of the night-time economy.

“A small minority of players may experience issues, and we are committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of social responsibility and offering support to players where necessary.”

An LGA spokesperson said: “Problem gambling can lead to spiralling debt, homelessness and relationship breakdown. Councils have long called for greater legal powers to approve or reject applications for new gambling premises, particularly where there is proliferation in a small area or on a single street.”

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it was “committed to reducing harm from gambling”. The Gambling Commission said councils can impose conditions, including reduced opening hours, if gambling is not offered in a fair and safe manner. All adult gaming centres must identify customers who may be at risk of harm and engage with those customers.

Admiral and Merkur Slots have been contacted for comment.