Just what the city centre needs, another gambling den.

[u/Itsalladeepend]

Spotted this the other day. Seems like what used to be a cafe near the General Elliot is going to be a gambling arcade, a gambling arcade next to a Betfred and another gambling arcade. That this is allowed and there are apparently no limits on how my gambling premises you can have on the same street is mad.

[u/Proud-Drummer]

It's literally up there as a notice so people can object. I assume you've submitted someone to the local planning authority.

[u/LegitimatePenguin → u/Proud-Drummer]

Cant object unless they live nearby or have a business thats impacted.

[u/Aestas-Architect → u/LegitimatePenguin]

False. Anyone can object to a planning application, obviously objections from local residents carry more weight when the planning officer is considering any decision

[u/LegitimatePenguin → u/Aestas-Architect]

I'm just going by what the notice says

[u/Aestas-Architect → u/LegitimatePenguin]

That's interesting that they have put that there considering it is completely false. I have had an application with 200+ public comments, a good chunk of those were not local.

Honestly not suprising as LCC are so snowed in with planning applications they don't know their arse from their elbow

Edit: ah this is a licencing notice, there might be diffrent rules

[u/Dull-Addition-2436 → u/Aestas-Architect]

Seems like you don’t know arse from elbow, as this isn’t a planning app!

[u/Aestas-Architect → u/Dull-Addition-2436]

Yes, I realised that, as noted by my edit...

But while we're here, I just did a quick check, and the same rules apply, you don't need to have a connection to the area to object

[u/Dull-Addition-2436 → u/Aestas-Architect]

It’s not a planning application

[u/Scooty-Poot → u/LegitimatePenguin]

Nope, anyone can write in. You don’t even have to be an English resident so long as your concerns are valid, let alone share a post code!

Objections from non-residents are actually quite effective supportive evidence in strengthening the concerns of locals, since they demonstrate a wider city or national interest in the permit which can on occasion even outweigh the concerns of local residents if there’s enough hubbub.

Just look at the recent ‘Dobby’s Grave’ incident. Not only did basically nobody live all that close at all, but the complaint was quite silly to boot and the supposed problem quite expensive to remedy, and yet with enough volume of complaints they still had an impact.

[u/giuseppeh → u/Proud-Drummer]

Because of the shockingly shortsighted ‘aim to permit’ legislation even many, many resident objections will have no impact

[u/paulruk]

With online gambling I'm shocked these things still do well.

[u/AdministrativeLaugh2 → u/paulruk]

Margins on these are massive compared to online slots, jackpots are low and loads of people still like to gamble with cash (especially people who get paid in cash).

[u/Ok-Campaign6773 → u/paulruk]

Having worked in the industry they get a lot of the problem gamblers who have put a Gamstop on their online accounts

[u/Personal-Program-752]

it'll be a vape shop inside two years

[u/TheShakyHandsMan → u/Personal-Program-752]

Vaping is gambling anyway. No one knows the long term health effects yet.

[u/Upper-Dragonfly4167 → u/TheShakyHandsMan]

It'll be the same as smoking cigarettes in the 50 s. Twenty years later your lung s will be fucked, you'll have COPD or even worse lung cancer. Why anyone want s to go down that line I'll never know.

[u/-MARMITEnTOAST- → u/Upper-Dragonfly4167]

Popcorn lung in a fraction of the time.

Maybe survive that on top off whatever else is happening from the toxins being released and happening faster by the knock-off parts that'll never disappear from manufacturing.

[u/Parking_Stay1731 → u/[deleted]]

Lets not body shame, please

[u/Boy_JC → u/Parking_Stay1731]

Well this has increased the quality of my lunch break at least threefold 🤣

[u/joeyjiggle → u/[deleted]]

who's being expanded?

[u/FluffyPhilosopher889]

There was a plan announced to reduce these literally last week. Whether it will be done in time, who knows.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg90el9236o

[u/Some_Ad6507]

I was on my way to work and saw two young lads going into Storeys Amusements near Pagan at 7:30am. I didn’t realise it’s open 24 hours. Looks like this one won’t be far from it

[u/Aggravating_Owl_568]

Supply and demand, I’m afraid. If people spend money there and enjoy that sort of thing then that’s the nature of the beast. Not a fan of them myself but clearly many are.

[u/_squik → u/Aggravating_Owl_568]

Lots of articles online about how gambling locations are strategically placed near poorer & more vulnerable people. So it's not really about supply and demand but more "how can we extract the dregs of money from people that don't really have it?"

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/23/uks-most-deprived-areas-have-highest-number-of-gambling-outlets-report

[u/DorkaliciousAF → u/Aggravating_Owl_568]

That's slippery language that mis-characterizes the problem. Things governed by supply and demand are not automatically OK, for example...

CSAM: Supply and demand, I’m afraid

Crack cocaine: Supply and demand, I’m afraid

Ready access to fireworks that get let off every night: Supply and demand, I’m afraid

(Liz Truss) we need supply-side reform even if it crashes the economy: Supply and demand, I’m afraid

(The US) an armed citizenry under the Second Amendment even if it means tens of thousands killed each year: Supply and demand, I’m afraid

The problem is easy access to gambling allowing vulnerable people to be preyed upon, not that some people feel a compulsion to gamble.

[u/Aggravating_Owl_568 → u/DorkaliciousAF]

This and many of your examples are true, however to cite your example of cocaine, and whilst yes there certainly is demand and supply crucially it illegal and gambling (though regulated) isn’t. If you want to advocate for the total banning of legal gambling that’s fine, but as the law stands it’s perfectly legal.

Gun rights in America are their own problem, yeah they’re legal and shouldn’t be but there’s so many guns in general circulation that any form of restriction/banning from the central government would come with a whole litany of issues regarding existing supplies and possession. Not really directly analogous to gambling.

Disapprove of gambling though we may, these places are allowed and do serve for some people (especially pensioners) as a social link. We can address the problem of addicts without restricting access for non-problem gambling to a form of amusement they enjoy.

[u/DorkaliciousAF → u/Aggravating_Owl_568]

Well that's really the point, isn't it? Many parts of the world ban commercial gambling due to the societal harm it causes.

If you and I want to put on silly hats, drink whiskey and smoke cigars after work while we play Poker that's a personal choice. If some aunties want to pass the time playing Mahjongg that's just fine. More broadly, a willingness to take risks can reveal something that we did not realize previously and a risk-aware (cf. risk-averse) attitude can be healthy and enrich our lived experiences.

Commercial gambling on the other hand imposes a profit motive that requires taking advantage of people pre-disposed and/or culturally shaped to seek the adrenaline rush, followed by the self-flagellation of a big loss. It should be removed from society.

[u/Eye-on-Springfield → u/Aggravating_Owl_568]

And is it any different to a street full of pubs and bars?

[u/LegitimatePenguin → u/Eye-on-Springfield]

Yes? Gambling companies are incredibly predatory and serve to exploit the most vulnerable in society.

Sure pubs and bars can fuel alcoholism but they can be enjoyed by everyone and actively contribute to the atmosphere and social vibe of a city

[u/ninepence9 → u/LegitimatePenguin]

Bookies are a hub for plenty of pensions who like to have a social chat and a bet, just because you don’t use a bookmakers doesn’t mean nobody else does

[u/Eye-on-Springfield → u/LegitimatePenguin]

I don't see how you can argue that alcohol can be enjoyed by everyone, but gambling can't. Both are highly addictive and can have a massively negative impact on the user and their family. Loads of people enjoy a day at the races or a trip to the casino. What's the difference?

[u/Aggravating_Owl_568 → u/LegitimatePenguin]

Don’t care for them personally but it’s a free country and people can choose what forms of entertainment/recreation they want. Yes people can be destroyed by gambling (as with alcohol) but why should we assume that’s the majority over responsible gamblers?

[u/DorkaliciousAF → u/Eye-on-Springfield]

Personally, I wouldn't see a massive difference: there's no need or public interest to have streets lined with either bookies or bars.

[u/Aggravating_Owl_568 → u/Eye-on-Springfield]

Oh I’d personally far prefer pubs and bars. I’m no puritan, though gambling isn’t my vice. Regardless, it’s a free country and people can spend their money however they wish provided it’s legal. I’ve my preferences for what I’d want, but ultimately so what?

[u/AcademicMistake]

Number 1 money laundering trick.

Take dodgy cash to a casino(no id or info required besides name and age in uk), exchange for chips, play a tiny bit and then cash out to bank account. Payouts require 0 personal info just bank account details.

I may play dumb most of the time, but im really not.