True Picture Of UK’s Adult Gaming Centre Problem Discussed In Report

Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) are swarming the UK’s most impoverished neighbourhoods, according to a fascinating study published by the BBC.

In its report, the BBC drew upon a wealth of data shared by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), noting that almost half of the AGCs are in the top 20% of the poorest areas in the country.

To be more precise, 664 of 1,400 such premises were cropping up in the UK. Open for 24 hours a day, the centres house automated gaming machines that can pay jackpots worth hundreds of pounds.

AGCs cropping up constantly

AGCs are here to stay, and they form a key part of the gambling fabric of Britain. Clusters have been forming, and Anna Hargrave, GambleAware CEO, suggested that the rise in AGCs is rather “concerning”.

While some AGCs across the UK have called for extended opening hours over the past few months, a few council leaders have expressed their disgruntlement at more AGCs being given the green light to set up shop. Kings Lynn councillor Deborah Heneghan was a prime example, referring to how there are four such businesses in her area.

AGCs are subject to passing checks from local licensing authorities. However, Heneghan has taken issue with these types of premises, insisting they are “altering the look and tone of the high street”.

Unchecked AGCs an ongoing concern

Aside from more AGCs being open, other issues appear to be at play that are cause for concern. In October, a worrying report emerged suggesting that many high street gambling venues were going unchecked.

Yes, it was suggested that over 130 councils had not carried out thorough inspections of AGCs. This led the Gambling Commission to concede that it would make it much harder for councils to identify which venues had breached rules.

More widely speaking, the Social Market Foundation revealed a proliferation in AGCs over the past few years. Between 2022 and 2024, there was a 7% rise in AGCs, and they suggested that AGCs risked encouraging anti-social or criminal behaviour.

AGCs a bone of contention

AGCs are a contentious area, and the critics have been vocal on the matter in trying to campaign to stymie their influence. However, not everyone agrees. BACTA communications director Allaster Gair is firmly in the camp that the sector was properly regulated, and insisted there was a purpose for introducing them to British high streets.

He said:

“A new AGC does not open without a full licensing process, council oversight and a detailed risk assessment.

“Operators do not target deprived areas; they take on long term empty units and invest in high streets that need regeneration.”

Problem gambling on the rise

Perhaps what will be more worrying will be the prevalent issue of problem gambling. Although not AGC-specific, gambling charity GamCare received more than 130,000 calls through the National Gambling Helpline between April 2024 and March 2025, and this translated into a significant rise compared to 2023/24.

While the gambling industry, more widely speaking, is facing uncertainty given the budget delivered by Rachel Reeves in November, the government insists they are doing all it can to empower councils to limit the pop-up of AGCs.

A spokesman from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the government was committed to giving councils the power to limit gambling shops.