Admiral Casino’s Bid for 24/7 Operations Hits Another Roadblock
The ambitious endeavor of Admiral Casino on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, Scotland, to extend its operational hours to a full 24 hours a day faced yet another setback; the proposal was recently shot down by members of the city’s planning local review committee. This marks the second time that the casino’s round-the-clock dream has been quashed, as they had already faced another rejection by city authorities back in November.
At that time, Admiral Casino had confidently rolled the dice, seeking to operate on a 24/7 basis. However, the city’s officials swiftly countered their bet, rejecting the request. Their rationale? They believed that continuous 24/7 operations of the casino could have a “detrimental” impact on the city’s residents, potentially leading to “increased footfall and noise at unsocial hours.”
According to a recent announcement, an appeal by Admiral Casino to overturn the Glasgow City Council’s earlier decision met with yet another disappointing outcome. The house always wins, it seems, but not in this case. The company that runs the casino, Luxury Leisure, brought forth a meticulously detailed plan to city officials, passionately advocating for 24/7 operations.
Attempting to assuage the council’s previous concerns, Luxury Leisure emphasized that adult gaming centers “do not generate adverse impacts to amenity through round-the-clock trading.” They additionally highlighted the 24/7 operation of their other adult gaming center on Queen Street, pointing out that the venue operates “on a 24-hour basis without noise complaint.” Alas, the cards were still not in their favor.
Round-the-Clock Casino Operations: A Gamble or a Gaffe?
One of the primary sticking points for the City Council’s members concerning Admiral Casino’s extended operating hours was the potential effect on local communities.
Councilor Imran Alam’s Stand
Councilor Imran Alam raised significant concerns, particularly criticizing the portrayal of the casinos as adult gaming centers. To him, the term evoked images of VR and arcade games rather than traditional slot gambling.
Alam quipped, “We know the issues that gambling can cause late at night. Picture this: people strolling out of a restaurant or nightclub late at night, meandering up Sauchiehall Street—they could easily end up frittering away whatever money they have left on the machines.” His metaphor painted a vivid picture of potential perils.
“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 Weighs In
Sharing Alam’s worries, Ken Andrew, the Glasgow City Council’s chairman and councilor, echoed similar sentiments. Andrew highlighted that the casino had failed to bring a compelling argument to the table. He noted that people are more vulnerable at night—a significant concern, particularly in an environment that could lead to increased footfall and noise.
Andrew drew attention to these risks, underscoring the possibility of increased noise levels as another reason for maintaining the existing operating hours. Using another analogy, he compared the extended hours to a high-stakes gamble that wasn’t worth the risk for the community.
Ultimately, Andrew was firm in his resolve, stating, “I agree with retaining the casino’s current operating hours.” His assertion was delivered with finality, closing the chapter on Admiral Casino’s latest bid to become Glasgow’s first 24/7 adult gaming center.
In the high-stakes game of casino operations, the house may usually have the edge, but for Admiral Casino, the deck seems eternally stacked against them when it comes to round-the-clock operations in Glasgow.
