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

18 March 2026
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Pritti MistryEast and Lincolnshire


The dad of a guy who took his own life after ending up being addicted to gambling has actually called the rejection of a 24-hour betting shop in Spalding a "little victory that will ripple throughout other neighborhoods".


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


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


Charles Ritchie, who established national charity Gambling with Lives with his spouse Liz after their kid Jack's death in 2017, welcomed the decision and said the "tide is turning against" huge casino firms.


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 wanted to eliminate those constraints and defended the rights to stay open all hours.


Planners turned down the bid on March 12, stating a 24-hour operation would adversely affect neighbouring residents with regard to "noise and disruption".


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


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


"So I think this is a little triumph, 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 been campaigning for gambling industry reform given that the Hull University graduate eliminated himself while fighting a gaming addiction.


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


His parents have actually long argued that gambling-related suicide is directly connected to addictive betting products and the industry's "predatory" marketing practices.


If you have been impacted by any of the problems raised in this story, details and support can be found at the BBC's Action Line.


Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, see the most recent episode of Look North.


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