Residents are worried over an increase in gambling and betting venues in the area.
Brent is one of the boroughs with the highest number of betting places and double the amount of people gambling with high risk (6.2% compared to the 2.9% average) according to charity GambleAware.
Local inhabitant Adrian Miotti is part of residents who campaign to tackle social issues in the area. He says the new venue will increase gambling problems and target the most vulnerable.
“Young people are becoming normalised to it. It’s becoming a subliminal messages that gambling is okay but it leads to so many social problems.” – Adrian Miotti, local resident
Labour councillors say they don’t want the bingo hall, but current legislation means they could not oppose it. Willesden Green Councillor Saqlain Choudry shares this sentiment.
“Local councils don’t really have the power to object to these premisces because the legislation is very outdated. What is needed is for the Secretary of State to give a view of this as a urgent review of the law.” – Cllr Saqlain Choudry
Former Lloyds bank will become a bingo hall in Willesden Green
The bingo hall will replace the last bank in the area. A Willesden shop worker said the issue isn’t really bingo, but lack of services in the neighbourhood.
“In the area we would have benefited from a bank. The closest one is in Kilburn. We’ve had two close recently.” – Willesden shop worker
Local resident Liam Upson also hopes that this can start a national debate.
“I’m hopeful that this is a spotlighting case of what can happen. At the moment we have shops closing down and bingo halls are the ones filling that gap right across Brent. There’s nothing at all to stop further bingo halls to open up and that’s a massive concern locally but should also be nationally.” – Liam Upson, Local Resident
Brent Labour, including Brent East MP Dawn Butler have called to reform the Gambling Act. The former government already started a reviewing process called ‘Gambling Act Review’ which has been paused since the last general election. Now, the government is evaluating the findings of the Sunak government to potentially install changes.
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HeadlineWillesden Green residents are worried a new bingo hall will normalise gambling for young people
Short HeadlineBrent community is worried a new bingo hall will normalise gambling for young people
Standfirst
Residents are worried over an increase in gambling and betting venues in the area.
Brent is one of the boroughs with the highest number of betting places and double the amount of people gambling with high risk (6.2% compared to the 2.9% average) according to charity GambleAware.
Local inhabitant Adrian Miotti is part of residents who campaign to tackle social issues in the area. He says the new venue will increase gambling problems and target the most vulnerable.
“Young people are becoming normalised to it. It’s becoming a subliminal messages that gambling is okay but it leads to so many social problems.” – Adrian Miotti, local resident
Labour councillors say they don’t want the bingo hall, but current legislation means they could not oppose it. Willesden Green Councillor Saqlain Choudry shares this sentiment.
“Local councils don’t really have the power to object to these premisces because the legislation is very outdated. What is needed is for the Secretary of State to give a view of this as a urgent review of the law.” – Cllr Saqlain Choudry
Former Lloyds bank will become a bingo hall in Willesden Green
The bingo hall will replace the last bank in the area. A Willesden shop worker said the issue isn’t really bingo, but lack of services in the neighbourhood.
“In the area we would have benefited from a bank. The closest one is in Kilburn. We’ve had two close recently.” – Willesden shop worker
Local resident Liam Upson also hopes that this can start a national debate.
“I’m hopeful that this is a spotlighting case of what can happen. At the moment we have shops closing down and bingo halls are the ones filling that gap right across Brent. There’s nothing at all to stop further bingo halls to open up and that’s a massive concern locally but should also be nationally.” – Liam Upson, Local Resident
Brent Labour, including Brent East MP Dawn Butler have called to reform the Gambling Act. The former government already started a reviewing process called ‘Gambling Act Review’ which has been paused since the last general election. Now, the government is evaluating the findings of the Sunak government to potentially install changes.
