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

18 March 2026
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Pritti MistryEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire


The daddy of a guy who took his own life after becoming addicted to gambling has called the rejection of a 24-hour betting store in Spalding a "little success that will ripple across other neighborhoods".


Merkur Slots lost its planning appeal to open 24 hours a day at its Hall Place place recently.


Dismissing the operator's appeal, the Planning Inspectorate said it discovered "damage in regard of the impact on the living conditions of neighbouring citizens" and there was "limited benefits of the proposal".


Charles Ritchie, who set up national charity Gambling with Lives with his spouse Liz after their child Jack's death in 2017, welcomed the decision and stated the "tide is turning against" big gambling establishment companies.


In July 2022, Merkur Slots was approved permission to operate from 07:00 to midnight Mondays to Saturdays and 10:00 to midnight on Sundays.


But the company desired to eliminate those restrictions and defended the rights to remain open all hours.


Planners declined the bid on March 12, saying a 24-hour operation would negatively impact neighbouring with regard to "noise and disruption".


Ritchie said it was "great news for Spalding" and he was pleased viewpoints by residents had actually been acted on.


"Up until just recently, there's been a kind of sensation of despair. You can't do anything.


"So I think this is a little success, however it is a message and it is something that does have ripples across other communities."


Merkur Slots has actually been approached for remark.


The Ritchie household, from Sheffield, have actually been campaigning for betting market reform because the Hull University graduate killed himself while battling a gaming addiction.


In 2022, the coroner ruled the 24-year-old instructor had been stopped working by "woefully insufficient" cautions and treatments.


His parents have long argued that gambling-related suicide is straight linked to addictive wagering items and the market's "predatory" marketing practices.


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