Slot machines are pulling in record profits in the heart of English cities and towns and not everyone is happy about the situation. According to the most recent numbers released by the Gaming Commission, British gambling revenue hit £11.5 billion ($15.4 billion USD) as of March 2025. Of that number, which is a 3.5 percent increase over 2024, approximately £623 million ($834 million USD) came from high street casinos or Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) as they are known.
Revenue from AGCs are up a full 23 percent from 2024 as a result of a massive growth in the business that’s led to a wave of new shop openings. But critics point out that many of those new AGCs are serving Britain’s most vulnerable customers in its most economically challenged areas.
This dramatic slot machine growth does not sit well with Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham. Burnham would like local officials to have more oversight into how many 24-hour casinos are being built in their cities. “These are high-stakes gambling venues, often open around the clock, targeting some of the most vulnerable in our communities. It’s unacceptable that councils have so little power to regulate them despite repeated concerns from charities and local residents,” he said in comments reported on by the Guardian.
Joseph Cullis, president of Bacta, a trade group representing AGC operators, defended his industry saying that they offer, “…safe, low-stake entertainment in well-regulated, supervised, alcohol-free environments”.
The Gaming Commission and the British government as a whole have steered clear of the high street casinos fray though the Commission White Paper did recommend more local oversight on AGC licensing.