The Sub-Committee granted the application for a new Adult Gaming Centre Licence for Little Vegas, 4 - 6 Cricklewood Lane London NW2 1EX subject to mandatory conditions applied by the Council and the conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police. There were representations from the Council's Public Health department, two local ward councillors, and thirty-four local residents objecting to the application. Their concerns were primarily about the location of the premises on a school route and the advertising in the windows of the premises, and the protection of children and other vulnerable people from harm.

Risk To Children

Councillor Anne Clarke, a local ward councillor, objected to the application because the premises were on a route where a lot of children congregate. Residents also objected on these grounds. For example, in her written objection Natasha Green said:

The location of 4-6 Cricklewood Lane presents a significant risk to children commuting to and from local schools, making it unsuitable for an Adult Gaming Centre.

Residents were also concerned about the nature of the advertising used by Adult Gaming Centres. Jessica Howey, a local resident, said:

Teenagers coming from Hampstead School, which has over 1,200 pupils, use this side of the pavement, as it is on their direct route from school. They will be attracted by the colourful, marketing style used by Little Vegas and the offer of free drinks.

The Sub-Committee heard from the Applicant's legal representative, Mr Paddy Whur of Woods Whur, that children were not allowed into the premises and that the advertisements complied with industry standards and were not designed to be attractive to children.

Risk to Vulnerable People

Councillor Clarke also objected to the application because

Cricklewood is also one of the most deprived wards in the borough and has some of the poorest air quality owing to the major roads which border the ward. Statistically, Cricklewood residents live shorter lives than leafier parts of the borough and are more likely to live in poverty.

Katherine Carr, a Public Health officer from Barnet Council, also provided a written representation objecting to the application on these grounds. She said:

Cricklewood is the most deprived ward in Barnet with 13% of its residents living in the top 10% most deprived areas of England (84% of residents are in the top 30% most deprived areas in England). There is good evidence to suggest that gambling harm disproportionately affects those who are unemployed and those who live in deprived areas.

The Sub-Committee heard from Mr Whur that the Applicant's staff were trained to spot when customers were at risk of harm and have conversations with them if they are, and that staff had 2,450 such interactions per year across the sixteen venues operated by the Applicant. Mr Whur also confirmed that the Applicant operates a self-exclusion scheme which prevents around 280 customers per year from accessing the Applicant's premises.

The Sub-Committee decided to grant the application because it was satisfied that the Applicant's advertising complied with industry standards and was not designed to be attractive to children and that the Applicant had rigorous measures in place to prevent children from entering the premises and to challenge vulnerable adults including its self-exclusion policy. The Committee considered that it was therefore reasonable to grant the Applicant’s application for a new premises licence.