Casinos Battle to Open in Empty High Street Shops

Numerous high street shops now stand empty in Barrow-in-Furness, as casinos seek to repurpose these spaces. (Image: Mark Waugh / Alamy)

The retail industry is concerned about the negative impact that further store closures could have on the high street. Three thousand more retail stores closed in 2023 than in 2022. Despite this, there is fervent opposition to the repurposing of shops on the High Street specifically aimed at casinos and adult gaming centres, which serve as an alternative to online casinos.

A report by PWC states, “While openings continue on a positive trend, an increase in closures sees overall results looking more mixed. A total of 14,081 shops and outlets belonging to multiples and chains (those with five or more outlets) exited UK high streets, shopping centres and retail parks in 2023. Equivalent to 39 closures per day.”  

Trend of Closures Fuelled by the Appeal of Online Shopping 

There is an acceleration in store closures as more chain stores exit the high street in recent times as a result of restructurings or administrations, with a long-term closure trend driven by the pull of online that is more a result of services rather than retail.  

In this climate, casinos and adult gaming centres are attempting to repurpose some of these empty shops and create employment. One example is Luxury Leisure, who have submitted plans to open a 24-hour casino at an empty premises in Barrow-in-Furness.  

Google Maps search shows at least ten empty retail premises on Dalton Road. There were other amusement premises and a bookmaker.

Responses to Opening Predominantly Negative  

There have been a few responses on the council’s planning portal, including representations from neighbouring businesses. Some raise concerns over gambling harms and local police officers worry about the plans in an area that they claim suffers from anti-social behaviour. 

The plans were submitted by Luxury Leisure in July. 

The aim is to convert the former Shoe Zone on Dalton Road, in Barrow, Cumbria, into an Admiral-operated adult gaming centre. There is an ongoing public consultation over the plans. 

Luxury Leisure claimed that the new business would make a "positive contribution" to the town centre and said that there was "no evidence" the proposed centre would contribute to anti-social behaviour. Luxury Leisure said that it would help "diversify" the town's evening economy. They also confirmed that Admiral units did not serve alcohol or allow it to be consumed on site, they added. 

Luxury Leisure stated that the area of town where their new premises would be located “already" had a number of late-night activities and that it would have sound insulation to minimise noise. They said the casino would ‘increase footfall’ in the town centre and would ‘create 12 jobs.