A second “adult gambling centre” in Brixton is seeking a licence enabling it to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lambeth council’s licensing sub-committee will consider the application from the Admiral “casino” at 510 Brixton Road, near its junction with Acre Lane, on Wednesday (29 October).
The local licensing authority – the council – is one of 26 objectors to the application for a 24-hour licence.
However, a council planning committee decision in December 2020 that Game Nation at 371 Brixton Road could operate only between 8am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday, was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate in February this year – allowing it to open 24/7.
The inspector’s report said that: “There is no compelling evidence before me that would lead me to conclude that the patronage of the AGC [adult gaming centre] would be amplified by allowing the change of operating hours or that this would be harmful.”
The Admiral application to the Lambeth council licensing committee makes much of the apparent lack of impact of the Game Nation appeal decision.
It also seeks to alter the hours during which the premises must have a door supervisor licensed by the official Security Industry Authority, the regulator of the private security industry.
Under the current licence, one would be required from midnight to 2am, Thursday to Saturday. The new 24/7 application proposes one from midnight to 6am Friday to Sunday.
Admiral’s current advertised opening hours are 8am to midnight, seven days a week.
A background section in the papers for the councillors who must rule on the application demonstrates the dense and diverse nature of Brixton.
It says that within 500 metres of Admiral’s site at the junction of Brixton and Stockwell Roads there are:
- Four betting shops
- Two adult gaming centres (including Admiral)
- 63 pubs and bars
- 16 places of worship
- 13 schools
- Four doctors’ surgeries
- An alcohol and drug treatment centre. and
- Supported housing on Acre Lane for individuals at risk of homelessness and mental health issues.
According to publicly available information, the background report says, there are seven off-licensed premises and 16 takeaways including fast food outlets within 500 metres radius of the premises.
And, according to publicly available information, there are 634 households within 161 metres of the post code for Admiral’s premises.
Objectors say that, if granted, the application might exacerbate the harm gambling does to vulnerable people, increase crime and anti-social behaviour, and normalise addictive behaviour.
Among the objectors are local MPs Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill) and Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) as well as councillors for Brixton Acre Lane ward David Bridson, Sarbaz Barznji, and Maria Kay. They also include the Brixton Society which says it is shocked by the plan to reduce security cover.
One objector highlights the late-night security issues at McDonald’s – only a few metres from Admiral.
The applicants will present reports to the licensing sub-committee showing an apparent lack of such outcomes linked to experience at Game Nation since its 24-hour operation was approved, and at Admiral with its current hours.
Admiral is part of a massive international gambling empire based in Austria. It has 20,000 employees and in 2024 had revenues of 3.5 billion Euros.
As well as the two adult gaming centres – offering sophisticated digital slot machines and gambling games like Attack From Mars – Brixton town centre is home to several bookmakers.
These include William Hill betting shops at 375 Brixton Road and 32 Electric Avenue. Another William Hill shop in Railway Arcade between Brixton Station Road and Atlantic Road is now a building site. The firm also has a shop near the top of Brixton Hill at No. 264.
Ladbrokes have shops at 400 Brixton Road opposite the police station and at 4 Acre Lane opposite Lambeth town hall.
Jennings Bet has a shop at 221 Stockwell Road, next to the Academy.
Details of the licensing sub-committee meting at
moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=18687&x=1
