Borough's large number of gambling addicts is costing £14m a year

A borough in North London has more than double the national average of problem gamblers, according to an assessment by the local council. The borough also has the second-highest concentration of gambling premises in London, with 81 licensed establishments, making gambling facilities more accessible 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 local councillors in Brent have been sounding the alarm for some time about the sheer 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 over the past few years has been described as 'grossly unwelcome and inappropriate' and has even led to the Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt, writing to the government urging it to tighten the laws on these kinds of venues.

Key findings of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) 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. But it's not just the social and community side that is impacted by the growing number of gambling sites, it is also having a direct economic impact. The JSNA also found that gambling-related harm is costing Brent an estimated £14.3m per year.

Brent was ranked fifth among local authorities with the highest number of betting shops per capita but that hasn't curbed the number of new premises applying for licences in the borough. There are already seven such sites within just a 600-metre stretch 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 such site within a 100-metre stretch, has received a huge backlash.

The ward councillor for Dollis Hill, which sits between Willesden and Neasden, has raised a strong objection to the plan, highlighting the 'detrimental impact' it would have on the area and its potential to contribute to 'social harm within the community'.

Cllr Liz Dixon described the company as 'exploitative, grossly unwelcome and inappropriate’ and accused it of 'consistently targeting deprived areas'. Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) have an addiction rate of 50 per cent and cause over half of all problem gambling cases in the UK, despite being played by only 3 per cent of the population, according to the JSNA. For comparison, heroin has an addiction rate of between 20 and 30 per cent, whilst tobacco's addiction rate is 30 per cent.

Cllr Dixon claims these findings underscore the need to reduce the number of gambling establishments in order to 'mitigate harm and protect vulnerable populations'. The JSNA emphasised that many individuals gamble out of financial desperation - which has been exacerbated by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, 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'.

Neasden, much like Willesden and Harlesden, is already an area facing significant socio-economic challenges, such as high levels of deprivation, meaning residents are particularly vulnerable to the harms caused by gambling. Cllr Dixon suggests adding another venue into the mix 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 residents to submit representations. They are concerned about the site being located next to a bus stop where it could 'harm and exploit' large numbers of children who gather there to travel to and from school every day. They also fear the cumulative impact it could have on antisocial behaviour.

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 it feels '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 - which provides a possible loophole for such companies.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) contacted Merkur Slots for their response to the issues raised by the JSNA, Cllr Dixon, and the residents but the company did not respond ahead of publication. 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."

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