Brent also has the second-highest concentration of gambling premises in London, with 81 licensed establishments, making gambling facilities more widespread than supermarkets, banks, or schools.
Locals have expressed “deep concerns” over the sites, which they claim “threaten the social fabric” of the area. Both residents and Brent councillors have been sounding the alarm for some time about the number of gambling sites in some of the borough’s most deprived areas, including Harlesden, Willesden, and Neasden.
The volume of new licensing applications in these wards in recent years has been described as “grossly unwelcome and inappropriate” and has led to council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt writing to the government urging it to tighten the law.
Key findings of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment conducted by Brent Council revealed that 6.2 per cent of residents in the borough are categorised as ‘problem gamblers’ – more than double the national average of 2.9 per cent.
The assessment also found that gambling-related harm is costing Brent an estimated £14.3m per year.
Brent has the fifth highest number of betting shops per capita among UK local authorities.
There are already seven within 600 metres of Harlesden, and more than ten within a one-mile stretch of Willesden. The latest application from Merkur Slots for an adult gaming centre in Neasden, which would make it the fourth within a 100-metre stretch, has received a huge backlash.
Cllr Liz Dixon, who represents Dollis Hill, between Willesden and Neasden, has raised a strong objection to the plan.
Cllr Dixon described the company as “exploitative, grossly unwelcome and inappropriate” and accused it of “consistently targeting deprived areas”.
Fixed Odds Betting Terminals have an addiction rate of 50% and cause over half of all problem gambling cases in the UK, despite being played by only 3% of the population, according to the assessment. Heroin has an addiction rate of between 20 and 30%, whilst tobacco’s addiction rate is 30%.
Cllr Dixon claims these findings underscore the need to reduce the number of gambling establishments to protect vulnerable populations.
The study emphasised that many gamble out of financial desperation, with young people three times more likely to exhibit problem gambling habits. Whilst they gamble less frequently, ethnic minorities were also found to experience disproportionately higher rates of harm.
Cllr Dixon suggests adding another venue in Neasden will compound these issues by fuelling “a vicious cycle of harm, addiction, and despair”.
The latest application, which is set to come before Brent Council’s alcohol and entertainment licensing sub-committee later this month (March 28), has also prompted six objections from residents.
They say the site, next to a bus stop, could “harm and exploit” children who gather there to travel to and from school.
One resident wrote: “The area already has problems with street drinkers and drug users; it will only encourage more poverty from people who are already suffering. This shopping precinct is deteriorating but this does not mean that we recoup business rates by just filling spaces best left empty or a meanwhile charity shop as the residents might appreciate some help of a genuine type.”
Cllr Butt wants local authorities to have more power to reject licence applications that they feel threatens the community’s welfare and safety but until then the council has little power to stop them. Whilst there is a cap on the number of bookmakers that can be opened in a particular area, there is no such limit on bingo halls and adult gaming centres.
Merkur Slots did not respond to a request for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). In the application, Merkur Slots states that the venues are strictly adult only and the shop frontage obscures the interior with no advertising depicting images that may appeal to children.
It says staff are given training and guidance on dealing with vulnerability, whilst also being aware of the importance of social responsibility to advise customers on gambling responsibility and identify any potential harm. It adds: “Whilst the premise may be near or in an area of relative deprivation, Merkur Slots takes the view that individual customers must be treated holistically.”
