Fears over proposed adult gaming centre in Walsall
A new ‘adult gaming centre’ looks set to open in a disused Walsall town centre bookies prompting fears it could encourage poor people to gamble their money away.
Members of Walsall Council’s planning committee are expected to give the go-ahead for Cashino Gaming Ltd to take over the former Coral branch on Bradford Street.
The company said their 24-hour venture would bring a shop that has been empty for more than a year back into use and create six jobs in the process.
It also added there would be no fixed odds betting terminals and instead would offer bingo machines and games tablets offering low stakes of between 10p and £2.
But the plans raised some concerns with three residents objecting over fear of increased crime in the area. Police also said the centre could entice people with little money to gamble.
A report to planning committee said: “The Designing Out Crime Police Officer has expressed concerns that slot machines premises can attract individuals who have little money and people with addictive personalities including
those individuals with none or cheaper accommodation such as houses of multiple occupation, a number of which are in the vicinity of the application site.
“The police have commented that the intention to provide complimentary refreshments could act as an attraction to such individuals looking for warmth and sustenance with the resulting temptation to spend what little money they have in slot machines.”
But in their application, Cashino said the average stake from customers is between 30p and 40p and added incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour were rare in their existing 162 centres.
Planning officers also said there was no evidence to support fears gaming centres will lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour issues in the area.
They said: “It is considered the principle of the proposed use is supported and would enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre by bringing back into use a currently vacant unit within a primary shopping frontage and the conservation area, plus increasing foot fall, helping to diversify the town centre offer, whilst widening the hours of the day when customers will want to visit and use the town centre.
“There is considered to be a real risk that this premises could remain vacant for some time and this proposal would bring this until back into an appropriate town centre use.”
Committee members are recommended to approve with conditions, including reduced opening hours, when they meet on Thursday, September 9.
