Gambling licence for Blackpool venue turned down

A council licensing panel turned down an application by Cashino Gaming Ltd for a bingo premises licence for Merkur Slots on Abingdon Street.

It comes after the council’s planning committee also indicated it would refuse planning permission for the company to convert a former betting shop into the proposed bingo and adult gaming centre.

Cashino Gaming had wanted to operate a total of 58 bingo and slots machines, with a bingo licence for 9am until midnight, and no restrictions on hours for the gaming machines.

Richard Bradley, solicitor for Merkur Slots, told the hearing the company was an experienced operator with “robust procedures” in place to address any concerns.

He said bingo was “a slightly softer form of gambling” with average stakes of 30p to 40p.

Safety measures would include a CCTV camera system and a Challenge 25 policy to ensure adult only participation.

But Paddy Whur, solicitor acting for objectors Abingdon Barbecue and The Bread Basket, said levels of deprivation, homelessness and crime in the area had raised concerns about late night opening.

He said: “There are significant and real risks in the vicinity of these premises and that is borne out by what my clients say in their objection.”

In reaching its decision, the panel said the risk assessment provided with the application was “not sufficient to address the identified risks of being one of most deprived areas in the country with nearby services for the vulnerable.”

They said it “had not sufficiently taken account of the local conditions” and added “there was no indication of measures that would be put in place to protect customers and staff when the crime level in the area is 54 per cent above average.”

The panel added it “did not believe that the location was suitable for this type of late night operation. ”

The applicant has 21 days to appeal the decision.