Gaming centre plan for West Bromwich shopping centre
A bingo and slot machine centre could take over an empty unit in a West Bromwich shopping centre – with bosses insisting it is not a betting shop.
Cashino Gaming Ltd has submitted a proposal to Sandwell Council planners to take over a former cafe unit in Kings Square and open up an ‘adult gaming centre’ (AGC) in its place.
If the plan is approved, a total of 12 jobs – six full time and six part time – will be created by the venture which will operate for 24 hours per day.
But the company has presented ‘mythbusters’ to defend against negative perceptions that have surfaced about such operations and, instead, put forward reasons why it could benefit the area.
In the application, they said: “AGCs are often, unfortunately, put into the same category as betting shops. This is because there is a widespread misunderstanding of how AGCs operate and who our customers are.
“We want to address these misconceptions and demonstrate that a new AGC on your local high street is a good thing.
“Public concerns surrounding betting shops were largely due to the presence of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. Our venues do not offer these types of machines.
“Our machines offer low stakes ranging from 10p to a maximum of £2. These machines have been around for many, many years.
“Our AGCs are where people come to spend their spare change, have a game of bingo and enjoy their favourite pastime in convenient locations.
“Whilst we sit within the leisure sector noise levels are very low and limited from our venues. We currently operate 24 hours in over 90 venues.
“We are immensely proud of the fact that we have never had a licence revoked or even reviewed. Incidents are extremely rare. We simply do not generate noise and anti-social behaviour.”
Cashino Gaming added the benefits of their operation included bring extra footfall into the town centre, local jobs and investment into a vacant unit.
