Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Investigative report into adult gaming centres
The Guardian has published an in-depth article into the world of adult gaming centres, including a look at the huge profit being made by international corporations. No surprise that these companies target the poorest areas. The article focuses on the work being done by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, working with an MP to get legislative changes to give local authorities more powers to control this highly addictive form of gambling.
Here in Haringey the Council has done a huge amount of work on exactly that, through the gambling harms project led by Cllr Lucia Das Neves and Public Health. Not surprisingly areas like Green Lanes, Wood Green High Road and Tottenham High Road have these adult gaming centres. The companies aim for 24/7 licenses.
Jut a few weeks ago Anna Abela and I both went to a licensing hearing where an adult gaming centre on Green Lanes was applying for a license extension from 11pm closure to 24/7 hours. We both objected, along with two local residents and Public Health which is a responsible authority under the licensing legislation.
The application was rejected by the committee.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/18/slot-machine-firms-...
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest
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Zena. I really hope that you can also try and put pressure where this is going to be decided- in Westminster. I would be keen to know what Catherine West is saying/doing about this? The sooner the council can have powers to stop new gaming centers opening the better!
I also saw that Middlesborough and Hull had 28 gaming centers between them, and we have 7 within seconds of each other on Green Lanes 25% of the total of those northern cities combined. From south to north:
- Ladbrokes
- Golden Slots
- Jennings Bet
- Paddy Power
- (Another) Ladbrokes- I guess in case the other one is full and you cannot get in
- Admiral
- Royal Casino Slots
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Permalink Reply by JamesN
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Harringay's other MP, David Lammy, was responsible for drafting and passing the Gambling Act 2005. This is the primary cause of these issues on our local high streets. Apparently, the 'unforeseen consequences' of the Act are a source of some regret for David.
It's gratifying to know he's capable of self-reflection, if only very rarely.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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DAVID Lammy could not be solely responsible for passing the Gambling Act 2005.
This most pernicious legislation was a product of New Labour government as a whole. This Act was probably the single most corrosive law they pushed through.
It represented a transfer of huge sums of money from the poorest to a very few and to the Exchequer.
The individual most responsible was "culture" secretary Tessa Jowell, who dishonestly claimed her opponents were snobs.
More widely, Tony Blair's Party accepted hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from betting interests before the gambling legislation was "liberalised".
I welcome Haringey Council's efforts to resist the wreckage caused by previous New Labour Government. The damage started in Westminster and it can only be stopped in Westminster.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh
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Yes, Justin, lors on Green Lanes and we shouldn’t forget that the building on the corner of St Ann’s is in play again. 13 years ago, an online campaign dissuaded Kinleigh Folkard from leasing to a gambling outfit. I'm not confident of such an approach succeeding a second time.
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon
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Hi Justin
Agreed - change can only come via parliament. But hopefully more authorities are raising their voices. I know Lucia has spoken at events about our own work in Haringey and I will certainly ask Catherine about any progress in Westminster.
Zena
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
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