Glasgow Casino’s Request to Open 24 Hours a Day Denied

The efforts of Admiral Casino on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, Scotland, to increase its working hours to 24 hours a day were recently shut down by members of the city’s planning local review committee. Back in November, the same casino faced another rejection by the authorities in the city.

At the time, Admiral Casino confirmed its intentions to operate 24/7. However, city officials rejected the request for the adult gaming center to be open 24 hours a day. Supporting its decision, the authorities said that the 24/7 operation of the casino may have a “detrimental” impact on the city’s residents and lead to “increased football and noise at unsocial hours.”

As announced by Glasgow Live, an appeal of Admiral Casino that sought to reverse the previous decision of the Glasgow City Council once again hit a brick wall. The company operating the casino, Luxury Leisure, presented city officials with its plan to operate 24/7.

Addressing previous concerns Luxury Leisure explained that adult gaming centers “do not generate adverse impacts to amenity through 24/7 trading.” Moreover, the operator pointed to the 24/7 working hours of its adult gaming center on Queen Street, adding that the venue operates “on a 24-hour basis without noise complaint.”

Round the Clock Casino Operations May Impact Local Communities

One of the primary concerns of the City Council’s members when it comes to extending the operating hours of Admiral Casino was the effect on local communities. Councilor Imran Alam took an issue with the way the casinos were presented as adult gambling centers, which sounded more like venues that offered VR and arcade games rather than slot gambling.

Alam said: “We know the issues that gambling can cause late at night, people coming out of a restaurant or nightclub late at night, walking up Sauchiehall Street, and they end up spending all their money or whatever money they have left on the machines.”

“I have not read anything that gives me any particular comfort that we should be extending their hours to 24 hours a day.“

Ken Andrew councilor and chairman of the Glasgow City Council

Ken Andrew, the Glasgow City Council’s chairman and councilor, shared those concerns. He explained that the venue’s position to extend their working hours wasn’t compelling.

Moreover, Andrew agreed with the raised point by other council members that people are more vulnerable at night. He acknowledged this as an issue, adding that the potential increase in noise is another reason why the Council decided against Admiral Casino’s 24/7 working hours. Finally, Andrew said that he agreed to retain the casino’s existing working hours.