North London borough grapples with alarming rise in gambling harm

Individuals with a gambling problem is a worldwide concern but a specific UK North London borough has reported that residents with gambling problems more than twice the national average.

An assessment by the local council of Brent, which is home to the second-highest number of gambling premises in London, with 81 licensed betting establishments — even outnumbering supermarkets, banks, and schools in the area.

This isn’t a new issue though, with residents and local councillors long raising concerns about the saturation of gambling venues in some of the borough’s most deprived areas, including Harlesden, Neasden, and Willesden.

As previously mentioned, Brent Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) found that the borough’s population with a gambling problem was more than twice the national average of 2.9%, coming in at a whopping 6.2%.

The economic toll is equally stark, with gambling-related harm costing the borough an estimated £14.3 million annually.

Despite Brent ranking fifth in the country for betting shops per capita, new applications continue to flood in. Harlesden alone has seven gambling venues within a 600-metre radius, while Willesden has over ten within a one-mile stretch.

Now, Merkur Slots seeks to open an adult gaming centre in Neasden — its fourth within a 100-metre area — triggering fierce opposition from local representatives.

Dollis Hill ward councillor Liz Dixon has voiced strong objections to the plan, calling it “exploitative” and warning of its potential to deepen social harm.

She argues that gambling operators are consistently targeting economically disadvantaged areas, exacerbating issues already present due to deprivation.

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), a focal point of the issue, have an addiction rate of 50% and are responsible for more than half of all problem gambling cases in the UK, despite being used by only 3% of the population.

The JSNA report underscores the link between financial distress and gambling addiction, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.

Young people are found to be three times more likely to develop problem gambling habits, while ethnic minority groups experience disproportionately high levels of gambling-related harm.

Cllr Dixon warns that allowing another gambling venue in the area will only worsen the cycle of addiction, financial hardship, and social harm.

With mounting pressure from community leaders and residents, Brent Council’s efforts to curb gambling expansion will be closely watched. Whether government intervention will come soon enough to address the crisis remains to be seen.

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