Dozens of objections were filed but the council said the “threshold for a refusal had not been met”
Another 24-hour gambling shop will open in Putney town centre, despite concerns for the protection of vulnerable people.
Wandsworth Council has granted a licence for Luxury Leisure, trading as Admiral, to open a 24-hour adult gaming centre on Putney High Street, which already has one adult gaming centre and two betting shops a short distance away.
The council’s licensing committee said that while there had been a high number of objections to the application, the “threshold for a refusal had not been met” and its own policy did not contain restrictions based on a clustering of similar venues nearby.
The authority said it would carry out a review of its gambling policy to strengthen it for future applications, so it has more power to refuse them without fear of an appeal overturning the decision.
The application received 58 objections overall, including concerns that it would result in a “cluster” of gambling venues on the high street. A separate application for planning permission was opposed by 624 people but approved in December 2024.
Putney MP Fleur Anderson told the council’s licensing hearing on July 9 the site was the “wrong location” for a gambling shop as it was opposite Putney Station and near schools.
The Labour MP said opening the shop would lead to an “inappropriate clustering” of gambling venues in the area. She raised concerns for the impact on vulnerable people – including those facing mental difficulties, addiction, financial stress and bereavement – who would pass the venue every day.
Ms Anderson said: “The concern is that when that difficult day comes – the bereavement, the financial pressure, the mental health crisis – that the constant accessibility and visibility is right there waiting. That’s why location matters.
“A gambling venue opposite a major station, Putney Station, is not simply serving customers who seek it out, it’s repeatedly placed in front of vulnerable people, whether they seek it out or not.”
Ms Anderson said increasing opportunities to gamble in the area could also result in more nuisance and disorder.
Liz Bridges, former chaplain of HMP Wandsworth, said she was concerned about the number of vulnerable people who would frequent the venue.
Ms Bridges said: “I know how many men in Wandsworth Prison are vulnerable and who end up standing on the front of the railway station or at the bus stops with nowhere to go.”
Anna Wojcik, a local mum-of-two, added: “There must come a point where adding another gambling premises in such close proximity is no longer consistent with the licensing objective of protecting children and vulnerable people from harm.”
Barrister Gary Grant, representing Luxury Leisure, said children would not be allowed to enter the venue and it would take all possible safeguards to protect vulnerable people, including intervening when needed.
He said Admiral was a highly-experienced operator of adult gaming centres and none of the roughly 300 shops it ran in the UK had been subject to a licence review for failing to uphold its duties.
Mr Grant said most of the objections were based on speculative concerns and the venue would be run appropriately.
He said: “We know what we’re doing. We know how to operate these venues without in any way undermining the licensing objectives.”
The solicitor added the plans would “put a high street premises that is boarded up and has been vacant since 2022 back into commercial use”.
A new report on the committee’s decision said the area was “affluent and… there had been no issues or incidents in any of the current gambling premises” on the high street, while noting Admiral’s track record and the conditions it would have to follow to keep its licence.
But the committee agreed to review the council’s gambling policy to guide how applications are decided in future, after expressing sympathy for residents’ concerns.
The report said the planned review aimed to “strengthen the policy to maximise the ability of the council to have more options when considering gambling-related premises licences”.
The council is set to hold a public consultation as part of the review, with details to follow in due course.
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