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Guardian
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Slot machine firms target UK’s poorest areas and channel funds to billionaires
- Slot machine companies are targeting Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods to channel funds to billionaire-owned corporations and a Wall Street fund, a Guardian investigation reveals.
- The number of slot machine shops in the UK has increased by 7% since 2022, exploiting lenient planning and licensing laws to establish adult gaming centres (AGCs) in deprived areas.
- Many AGCs are open 24 hours a day and disproportionately located in the most impoverished neighborhoods, prompting concern from addiction experts and politicians.
- Coastal towns, including economically deprived ones, feature a high concentration of AGCs, with locations in areas like Great Yarmouth and Middlesbrough.
- MPs and addiction specialists are worried about the accessibility of slot machines, which are considered highly addictive, especially in vulnerable communities.
- Operators like Admiral and Merkur have expanded their operations in the UK, with AGCs contributing to over £530 million in gambling revenue.
- There are calls for stronger regulations and licensing powers to prevent the spread of AGCs in deprived areas, aiming to hold operators accountable.
- Major AGC operators, including Admiral Slots owned by Novomatic, and Merkur owned by the Gauselmann family, have faced scrutiny for their practices.
- Private equity firms are also involved in slot machine ownership, with a fund managed by Morgan Stanley owning the Game Nation chain.
- Concerns have been raised about the impact and societal costs of AGCs, as they are seen to exploit vulnerable populations while enriching wealthy corporations.
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