Around-the-Clock Expansion of Gambling Venues in Britain: Steep Rise in 24-Hour Gambling Centers
Unprecedented Increase in 24/7 Gambling Arcades in the UK, Experts Warn of Addiction Risks
The number of 24/7 gaming arcades, known as Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), in the UK is escalating, with Merkur, a leading gaming provider, opening over 100 new AGCs since 2020. This growth has raised concerns among gambling addiction experts, as city centers become dotted with easily accessible gambling venues that are predominantly open around the clock.
Apart from the AGCs' ubiquitous presence, gaming providers exploit legal loopholes to install more 2-pound gambling machines. These slots—which allow players to wager up to 2 pounds per round—are a significant revenue generator for operators, earning an average of over 30,000 pounds per machine annually. Currently, there are approximately 14,200 of these machines operating in the UK, producing a total annual revenue of 463 million pounds.
Dr. Matt Gaskell, a psychologist and clinical lead of the Northern Gambling Service, has expressed concerns about the rising addiction risks posed by AGCs, stating, "They are designed for long gaming sessions, and that's where the damage is done. Their increasing availability on high streets is extremely concerning."
UK gambling regulations mandate that only one in four machines in AGCs can be a 2-pound Category B slot, with the majority being Category C machines (1-pound slots). Tablets, which slot into the Category C classification, are used by operators to increase the number of legally allowed 2-pound machines. This loophole allows providers to circumvent the regulations limiting the number of high-stakes machines.
Protests and lawsuits against AGCs are common but seldom successful, with authorities obliged to approve AGCs due to the "aim to permit" clause in British legislation. This provision empowers gambling providers, financially and legally equipped to handle licensing procedures, making it challenging for local governments and opponents to intervene effectively.
In light of escalating gambling addiction concerns, British politicians are advocating for changes to the current gambling laws to curb the expansion of AGCs. However, the Gambling Act has yet to be updated, indicating that the proliferation of gambling venues and 2-pound slots in the UK is expected to continue.
What about the proliferation of casino-and-gambling venues like Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) in the UK, particularly the 2-pound casino-games, could potentially lead to addiction problems, as warned by gambling addiction experts? Despite efforts to regulate their numbers, the ease with which gaming providers exploit legal loopholes to increase these high-stakes machines continues, posing challenges for local governments to intervene effectively.
