24-Hour Gambling Venue for Whitby As Bank Closure Sparks Controversy

A proposal to replace Halifax Bank on Baxtergate with a 24-hour gambling venue has sparked controversy in Whitby. While the seaside town in North Yorkshire is known for its scenic views, historic harbour, and ties to Dracula, the idea of a round-the-clock casino has riled up locals. Concerns over the impact on the town’s reputation, tranquillity, and the potential to attract the wrong crowd have led to over 500 objections. As the council debates the proposal, residents are left wondering if a new gambling hub is really the right fit for their town.

The Proposal and the Bank Closure

Luxury Leisure submitted a proposal regarding Halifax Bank on Baxtergate and its upcoming closing date in May 2025. The proposal detailed replacing the bank with a 24-hour gambling venue. Given the current state of the iGaming landscape, this seems to be a lucrative choice, especially for local residents.

This could also compete with the accessibility associated with online gambling options that operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unlike land-based casinos, these online platforms offer a wider variety of gaming options, including different variations of classics like blackjack, as well as live dealer options like Sic Bo and Roulette (source: https://www.tg.casino/). While the closure of the bank does negatively impact the community in terms of losing a long-time business, the new gambling venue steps up by providing new job opportunities.

However, town residents are not happy at the prospect of having a venue that could potentially attract the wrong crowd or disrupt the town’s tranquillity. While this is a fair claim on the part of the residents, it also stands to reason that it might have the opposite effect, instead attracting new business as a new town innovation.

Local Opposition and Concerns

However, there have been a significantly high number of objections from residents, standing at over 500. Some residents have expressed their concerns about how this impacts the town’s reputation or image, with one stating that Whitby is not “Las Vegas.” Despite this, council planning officers recommended the 24-hour gambling venue be approved, as the space would remain unoccupied for a long period otherwise.

This caused further disarray, with the objecting parties stating that a gambling venue was not an appropriate option to replace a bank. The MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Alison Hume, created a petition against the approval of this proposal while the city council were set to discuss these plans last Thursday.

As it stands, the council was successful in halting the approval of this venue being turned into a new gambling hub. Councillor Derek Bastiman voiced his opinion, detailing how he did not see the positives associated with this decision. Despite the push to thwart Luxury Leisure’s plans, it did not seem the residents had anything against gambling specifically. Councillor Janet Jefferson voiced that it just was not the right place to open up a gambling venue.

Luxury Leisure’s Perspective

From the perspective of Luxury Leisure, it seems there was no malicious intent when submitting this proposal. A spokesperson stepped forward in an attempt to address resident concerns, making it clear there would be no noisy arcade equipment. However, this was not enough to convince residents that it would be a positive thing.

From a business standpoint, the UK is one of the most significant contributors to the gambling sector in terms of revenue. As such, it makes sense to want to set up a gambling venue in a tourist hotspot. In doing so, Luxury Leisure would be able to capitalize on the incoming foot traffic from tourists while acting as a new attraction for the town. While 24-hour gambling venues are not unheard of, they are innovative ways to compete with more trendy alternatives.

The company claimed the venue would not attract under-18s, which makes sense given the UK’s strict gambling regulations. Even more, Luxury Leisure has argued the potential impact the gambling venue could have on the local economy. It is possible that it could have injected more revenue back into the sector.

The Pros and Cons

Ultimately, it all boils down to whether the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to the approval of the 24-hour gambling venue. Would it be a good thing or a bad thing, in theory? On the one hand, there are the pros of increased footfall and economic activity, as voiced by Luxury Leisure. This would include visitors even during off-peak hours and the creation of new job opportunities. Additionally, it would also keep an otherwise vacant space occupied.

The cons include how a gambling venue would impact Whitby’s character as a peaceful seaside town. The Halifax bank was considered a community asset, and replacing it with a casino could further taint its legacy. Lastly, a 24-hour venue could encourage anti-social behaviour, especially for individuals who would choose to spend most of their time gambling.

Final Thoughts

As it stands, the cons do outweigh the pros, so it is probably for the best that the proposal was not approved. Furthermore, it is essential to note that residents have been successful with their local businesses thus far. While it may have increased economic activity, it may have made Whitby less attractive to tourists looking for a full seaside experience.