Adult gaming and bingo centre for Cleveleys gets go ahead

Cashino Gaming Ltd, trading as Merkur Slots, applied to Wyre to open the slots arcade in the former Coral betting shop premises on Victoria Road West, which has been empty since last year.

The application for a Bingo Premises Licence, allowing the company to operate bingo and slot machines at the premises, came before the council’s licensing sub-committee and was approved, with a number of conditions.

There were seven letters of objection to the plans, expressing fears of a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Cashino Gambling, which trades as Merkur Slots, already operates 162 adult gaming centres around the UK as well as bingo halls and other amusement arcades, and is part of the international Gauselmann Group operating worldwide.

Of these, 73 are ‘high street’ bingo premises and five are bingo clubs.

The Cleveleys venue will feature a range of bingo-themed slot machines as well as sessions with a live caller.

In its application document, Cashino stated: “We always endeavour to liaise with responsible authorities concerning the operation of our premises and pre-consult with the police prior to making new applications.

“Cashino Gaming has never had a review of a bingo premises licence.”

An application letter submitted to Wyre Council also said: “The proposals for a new AGC (adult gaming centre) will bring this vacant unit, which is not currently contributing to the vitality and viability of the centre, back into active use.

“The unit will have an active shopfront, will be open during typical shopping hours, and will generate high levels of footfall and linked trips within the centre.”

The same company had a similar application turned down by Blackpool Council last month, when it applied to to take over another empty former Coral premises on Abingdon Street, after fears were raised about the impact of gambling on vulnerable people in the resort.

But Cashino stated in its application to Wyre that across its venues, the average stake placed was between 30p and 40p, with stakes ranging from 10p through to £2.

The company also says the bingo licence does not allow for the type of high-stake slot machines described as “gambling crack”.

Conditions include that the company must maintain a comprehensive CCTV system, with all recordings stored for a minimum of 31 days, and an incident log kept of all crimes, incidents of disorder and seizures of drugs or weapons.

Another condition is that the venue must operate no later than midnight.