Poorer towns have most gambling outlets, says UK study

A study has found that one-in-five gambling premises in the UK are now located in the poorest towns.

Betting shops, says the study by Bristol University, are ten times more likely to be found in deprived towns than in affluent areas. It has listed the areas with the highest number of betting shops per capita include London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Middlesborough.

Media reports quote the Gambling Commission as saying: “We will carefully consider the issues raised by any gambling-related research and any actions will be taken through the national strategy to reduce gambling harm.”

The UK Government is currently undertaking a review of its Gambling Act. The Betting and Gaming Council, however, comments that its members provide 119,000 jobs, generate £4.5bn in tax and contribute £7.7bn to the economy in gross value added.

John White, chief executive of Bacta, the trade body for the UK amusement and gaming industry, said: “Adult gaming centres bring nearly 10,000 jobs to areas where unemployment is often higher than average.”