Casino's 24/7 Opening Rejection A 'Little Victory'

18 March 2026
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Pritti MistryEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire


The dad of a man who took his own life after becoming addicted to gambling has actually called the rejection of a 24-hour betting shop in Spalding a "small success that will ripple across other neighborhoods".


Merkur Slots lost its planning attract open 24 hr a day at its Hall Place venue last week.


Dismissing the operator's appeal, the Planning Inspectorate said it found "damage in respect of the effect on the living conditions of neighbouring citizens" and there was "limited benefits of the proposition".


Charles Ritchie, who established national charity Gambling with Lives with his after their boy Jack's death in 2017, welcomed the decision and said the "tide is turning against" big casino companies.


In July 2022, Merkur Slots was given approval to run from 07:00 to midnight Mondays to Saturdays and 10:00 to midnight on Sundays.


But the business wished to get rid of those constraints and fought for the rights to stay open all hours.


Planners rejected the bid on March 12, stating a 24-hour operation would adversely impact neighbouring homeowners with regard to "noise and disturbance".


Ritchie said it was "good news for Spalding" and he was happy viewpoints by locals had actually been acted upon.


"Up until just recently, there's been a type of feeling of misery. You can't do anything.


"So I think this is a small success, but it is a message and it is something that does have ripples throughout other neighborhoods."


Merkur Slots has actually been approached for comment.


The Ritchie household, from Sheffield, have actually been campaigning for gambling industry reform considering that the Hull University graduate killed himself while battling a gaming dependency.


In 2022, the coroner ruled the 24-year-old teacher had been failed by "woefully inadequate" warnings and treatments.


His moms and dads have long argued that gambling-related suicide is straight connected to addicting betting items and the market's "predatory" marketing practices.


If you have actually been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, details and support can be discovered at the BBC's Action Line.


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