There was some confusion earlier this week when the government announced a ‘crackdown’ on betting shops, as part of its efforts to spruce up our high streets. Presumably, the term ‘betting shops’ was only being used because it is more emotive and easier to understand than Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), which refers to those open-all-hours rooms of flashing, candy-coloured slot-machines. But that was what the government really meant, right? Sure enough, a senior figure familiar with the plans quickly assured me this was all about AGCs, as well as vape shops and barbers. Licensed bookmakers, not so much.
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A few hours after the press release, however, Prime Minister Andy Burnham posted a video, in which he said: ‘Do you ever look at your high street now and think, who actually asked for this? Another vape shop, another betting shop, an adult gaming centre…’ It was now pretty clear that Burnham really did mean betting shops and not just AGCs. When I sent the video to that senior figure, they simply replied: ‘Goodness.’
