A Previous Retail Shop for Adult Products May Turn into a Casino
A UK retail store known for selling sex toys and lingerie, previously located on Abington Street, might be transformed into a casino room offering slot machines, bingo, and sports betting.
The British retailer, Ann Summers, shifted locations last year, closing their Abington store in favor of the Grosvenor Shopping Center. The space at 9a Abington Street is now under consideration for rezoning to accommodate a 24/7 business.
Merkur Gaming, a manufacturer of slot and electronic gaming machines with over 220 gaming venues in the UK, is the initiative's driver. This company operates a "Cashino" nearby at 7 Abington Street, and desires to extend its gaming operations into the two adjacent retail spaces.
The previous occupant of 9 Abington Street, a Moss Bros. clothing outlet, closed abruptly in early 2021. Financial hardships prompted this iconic London-based business to delist from the London Stock Exchange in 2020.
Ann Summers was established in 1971 and today operates around 80 stores in the UK.
Seizing Opportunities Amid the High Street's Demise
Abington Street is Northampton's main shopping thoroughfare, often referred to as a high street. High streets usually feature a high concentration of betting shops like Merkur's Cashinos.
Northampton's high street has been struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, betting operators, such as Merkur, have shown optimism in expanding their brick-and-mortar presence in multiple UK cities and towns. Merkur plans to invest over £5 million over the next year on opening new high street venues.
The proposal aims to revive a long-vacant unit, generating several economic benefits and allowing an existing town center operator to relocate and sustain economic growth. Merkur emphasized that their operations do not include fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), controversial machines liken by critics to the "crack cocaine" of gambling. Instead, Merkur claims to specialize in low-stakes betting.
"Gambling is NOT a way to make money!" Merkur informed its followers on Twitter. Their tagline further states, "to provide the best quality value for money and entertainment in the low stake, high volume slot machine marketplace."
Community Resistance
Merkur's request to rezone the Abington St. retail space may face resistance from Northamptonshire Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, Danielle Stone. The Labour councilor has frequently expressed her displeasure towards the proliferation of gambling establishments in disadvantaged areas.
"We already have too many casinos, betting shops, pawn shops, and loan sharks preying on the finances of vulnerable households," Stone asserted. "It's like a tax on the poor."
Northampton, like many other major cities in the UK, is home to numerous betting and bookmaker shops. In addition to Merkur, the Abington St. area has Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, and Betfred outlets offering FOBTs, slots, bingo, and sports betting.
The rezoning request is scheduled for a decision during the June 24 meeting of the West Northamptonshire Council.
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Source: www.casino.org
