Sandwell Council has granted permission for a high street casino to operate 24 hours daily, overriding strong objections from both police forces and public health officials who warned of potential significant harm to the local community.
Objections from Authorities
West Midlands Police formally objected to the application from gambling firm Luxury Leisure, which sought to remove restricted opening hours for the Admiral Casino located at 562 Bearwood Road in Bearwood. The police force highlighted that Bearwood Road is already considered a high crime area, with concerning statistics supporting their position.
According to police data, the area has experienced 34 reports of anti-social behaviour in the past year, alongside 24 burglaries since November 2024. More alarmingly, there have been 114 reports of violent crime and 24 incidents of vehicle crime in the same period.
Late-Night Incident History
The police design crime out officer revealed that officers had been called to the premises 17 times in the last 12 months, with seven of these calls occurring between midnight and 6am. These late-night incidents primarily involved customers causing disturbances or damaging gambling machines.
Public health officials at Sandwell Council echoed these concerns, stating that extending the casino's hours would cause continuous noise, late-night disturbance, and increased activity during unsociable hours. They emphasised that the area already struggles with pressures from numerous 24-hour shops, venues, and late-night takeaways.
Established 24-Hour Presence
Despite these warnings, the council approved the application, noting that the casino already holds a 24-hour licence from Sandwell Council but required planning permission changes to implement extended operating hours. The building, previously a NatWest bank that closed in 2018, had stood empty for several years before its conversion to an adult gaming centre in 2021.
The area already hosts another 24-hour Admiral Casino directly opposite the newly approved venue, along with several other shops, a gym, and additional casinos operating round-the-clock on Bearwood Road.
In their planning application statement, Luxury Leisure argued that adult gaming centres represent established town centre uses that contribute to commercial diversity without harmful impacts on retail activity. The firm maintained that the proposed use doesn't constitute an inherently noisy activity and cited no evidence of exacerbated anti-social behaviour from such establishments.
