Government move to restrict spread of adult gaming centres welcomed by Enfield politicians

The prime minister this week said his government would be giving local councils more powers to stop the spread of harmful gambling venues, reports James Cracknell

Merkur Slots, Admiral Casino and Palace Amusements all have multiple venues in Enfield

Government plans to help local councils restrict adult gaming centres have been welcomed by local politicians in Enfield.

This week Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed his new Labour government was working on proposals that would scrap the ‘aim to permit’ rule which currently restricts the ability of councils to refuse permission for new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops, known as adult gaming centres.

In Enfield the proliferation of adult gaming centres has sparked alarm in recent years, amid several failed efforts to prevent new units opening. Around 80 are thought to be operational in the borough at present. They often open for 24 hours and include multiple slot machines.

One community group in Angel Edmonton recently accused the companies which run these gambling venues of “preying” on the borough’s poorest people, while last month the chair of Enfield Council’s licensing committee apologised to residents opposing a new adult gaming centre in Bowes after admitting the council “has to comply with the law as it currently stands” and approve it.

As well as scrapping the ‘aim to permit’ rule, the government also plans to force all new adult gaming centres to apply for planning permission, as well as a licence. Other new rules are being proposed to limit the spread of vape shops and to increase the maximum length of closure orders, from six to twelve months, giving police and local authorities more time to investigate premises linked to organised crime.

Southgate and Wood Green MP Bambos Charalambous was among those opposing the recent Palace Amusements application for Green Lanes, in Bowes. Separately, the Labour MP also presented a petition to parliament in May calling for stronger action to tackle suspected illegal activity in high street shops.

Welcoming this week’s government announcement on new rules for high streets, Charalambous said: “The changes could make a real difference to high streets across Southgate and Wood Green, by giving local people more influence over the businesses opening in their communities.

“With Andy Burnham’s leadership, the Labour government is doing things differently – taking power out of Westminster and putting it into the hands of local communities. The measures are part of Labour’s wider plan to support responsible businesses, restore pride in local places and bring hope back to town centres.”

Research shows that across the UK, gambling venues are disproportionately clustered in the most deprived areas. There are approximately 1,450 adult gaming centres in total and more than half of these are located in the poorest 20% of British neighbourhoods.

Enfield North MP Feryal Clark has also welcomed the proposed new restrictions. The Labour MP spoke in the House of Commons in January, saying that current gambling laws were “indefensible”.

This week, Clark said: “I’m delighted that the government has announced new measures to give communities a much stronger say over what opens in their neighbourhoods.

“For too long, local people have felt powerless as adult gaming centres, vape shops and rogue businesses have replaced the shops and services they want to see.”

Labour group leader Ergin Erbil, who in his previous role as council leader signed an open letter to the Labour government calling for changes to the Gambling Act, said: “I am delighted that the campaign Enfield Council signed up to under my leadership has been successful. I’d also like to thank Feryal Clark MP for raising this issue in parliament earlier this year.

“This is another example of the Labour government putting Enfield’s high streets first. We had fourteen years of Conservative failure that nearly killed our high streets. Now Labour is acting.

“Here in Enfield, we have seen first-hand how gambling venues are disproportionately targeting our most vulnerable residents, exacerbating debt, mental health struggles, and crime.”

Cllr Erbil added: “The Conservative administration must now take advantage of these new powers to update the council’s licensing policies and we will be raising this at the next full council meeting.”

The Dispatch has approached the Conservative-led council for comment.

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