High street gambling venues going unchecked, BBC finds

A recent BBC investigation found that over a third of councils in England and Wales did not inspect any licensed gambling establishments in the past year, highlighting a significant gap in oversight. The Social Market Foundation described adult gaming centers (AGCs) as "sinkholes on the high street," emphasizing their negative impact on low-income communities. According to the Gambling Commission, the absence of inspections makes it harder to detect regulatory violations. The Local Government Association attributed the lack of inspections to funding constraints faced by councils. AGC representatives countered that their venues operate responsibly and are heavily regulated.

The Gross Gambling Yield from AGCs reached nearly £463 million in 2023-24, marking a 76% increase from 2021-22, raising alarms among local authorities and MPs. Dr. James Noyes from the Social Market Foundation urged for improved collaboration between government, regulators, and local councils to ensure better monitoring. Earlier this year, Brent Council commissioned research to address gambling-related harm more effectively.