In the United Kingdom, a new BBC investigation has revealed a disturbing fact: half of all land-based gaming halls are located in the country’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, raising serious concerns about the social and economic impact of this proliferation.
A worrying landscape
In the streets of many British cities, new establishments called adult gaming centres have sprung up in recent years. These venues, often open 24 hours a day, house automated machines offering cash prizes, attracting customers who hope to hit the jackpot at any time of the day or night.
But of the approximately 1,400 land-based gaming centres scattered across the United Kingdom, 664 are located in the 20% most deprived areas of the country. In other words, in neighbourhoods where unemployment, economic insecurity and social difficulties are most acute. Behind this geographical distribution, some observers see a location strategy by operators that does little to benefit local communities.
A vicious circle
The presence of these gambling centres in already vulnerable neighbourhoods is not just an urban planning issue: it fuels debates about public health and social justice. Anne Hargrave, chief executive of GambleAware, expresses clear concern: economically disadvantaged communities are twice as likely to suffer gambling-related harm as others.
According to published data, not only do these areas have a high concentration of gambling centres, but the people who live there are more likely to develop problematic gambling behaviour compared to those in wealthier neighbourhoods.
A particularly poignant testimony heard by the BBC illustrates this unease. Charlie Barker, a gambler suffering from addiction, confides that there are between five and six gambling halls near his home, reinforcing the view of an environment saturated with incentives to gamble.
The proximity of these establishments plays a decisive role: for someone living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, easy access to slot machines or other games can exacerbate addictive tendencies, especially in a context where economic prospects are limited.
The role of local authorities
To what extent can local authorities curb the proliferation of gaming halls?
According to industry representatives, including Allastar Gair, communications director at BACTA (the British Association of Leisure Operators), local authorities have mechanisms in place to refuse licences or block the opening of establishments in certain sensitive areas, such as near schools.
In practice, however, the powers of these authorities remain limited. Under the current law, known as the Gambling Act 2005, local councils must often approve licence applications once the minimum criteria are met, without being able to oppose them simply because they deem the location inappropriate.
This legal framework, perceived as favourable to operators, is a source of frustration for many local elected representatives and associations, who are calling for local councils to be given greater powers to more easily refuse openings in socially vulnerable areas.
An intensifying debate
While some defend the right of companies to operate freely under the existing regulations, others believe that the current model mainly benefits operators and shareholders, to the detriment of the most vulnerable populations.
As the UK considers potential reforms to its gambling laws, this controversy surrounding the geographical distribution of land-based gaming centres could well become a central issue in the public debate in 2026.