Plans for 24/7 casino in Smethwick approved despite objections from police and public health officials

Admiral Casino, based in the former NatWest bank at 562 Bearwood Road in Bearwood, Smethwick currently opens from 8am to 11pm every day.

Gambling firm Luxury Leisure applied to Sandwell Council to lift the restricted opening hours in the planning permission which allowed the former bank to be converted into the adult gaming centre.

Sandwell Council approved the application despite objections from West Midlands Police and health bosses.

Public health officials at Sandwell Council said extending the hours would cause “significant harm” to an area already struggling due to the number of 24-hour shops and venues and late-night takeaways.

West Midlands Police objected to the 24/7 application saying it would lead to an increase in vehicle crime – saying two cars had already been stolen in the immediate area in the last 12 months.

The force said Bearwood Road was a “high crime area” with 34 reports of anti-social behaviour made in the last 12 months. West Midlands Police said there had also been 24 burglaries reported since November 2024, 114 reports of violent crime and 24 reports of vehicle crime.

The force’s design crime out officer added that police had been called 17 times in the last 12 months with seven calls made between midnight and 6am relating to customers playing up or causing damage to gambling machines.

Sandwell Council approved the change of use from a bank to an adult gaming centre in 2021.

The bank closed in 2018 and remained empty for a number of years despite a number of refurbishments being carried out.

The casino already has a 24-hour licence from Sandwell Council but needed the change in planning permission to open later.

A 24-hour Admiral Casino is already open on the opposite side of Bearwood Road. Several other shops, a gym, and other casinos in Bearwood Road already open 24 hours a day.

Sandwell Council’s public health department said in its objection: “The proposed variation would cause significant harm to residential amenity through continuous noise, late-night disturbance, and increased comings and goings, particularly during unsociable hours,” the objection said.

“It would also heighten the risk of crime and disorder in the late-night economy.

“Importantly, Bearwood Road already contains a 24-hour gambling venue, and there is a high concentration of other adult gaming centres and betting shops in the immediate vicinity.

“This section of Bearwood Road already experiences pressures from the night-time economy due to the number of late-night takeaways.

“A further 24- hour gambling venue would exacerbate these issues and place additional strain on police and community safety resources.”

In a statement included with the planning application, firm said: “It is unclear why the hours of use were restricted however, the principle of 24 hour and latenight use in the town centre is well established.

“Adult gaming centres are established bona fide town centre uses which add to the diversity and choice of uses in town centre locations and which have no harmful impact on retailing activity.

“Internally, there is no noisy amusement arcade equipment which attracts under 18s and has an impact on amenity.

“Unlike an ‘arcade’ which is noisy to attract passing custom of all ages, there is a statutory obligation to exclude under 18s from adult gaming centres.

“The proposed use itself is not an inherently noisy activity nor in relation to the comings and goings of customers.

“There are no adverse impacts and there is no evidence of any anti-social behaviour being exacerbated by such uses.”