CHINESE ARE 'VULNERABLE TO BOOKIES' - Protesters say Chinatown ‘in danger of becoming Gamblingtown’

Published: 28 January 2011
by JOSH LOEB

CHINESE activists fighting to curb the “scourge” of betting shops may launch a landmark test case against City Hall a week before they celebrate New Year.

Yesterday (Thursday), members of campaign group London Citizens went to Westminster Magistrates’ Court to appeal against City Hall’s decision in October to grant a licence to the latest betting shop set to open in Chinatown. 

The case was thrown out but the campaigners now want to go to the High Court to apply for a judicial review.

Richard Stein, solicitor for London Citizens, called the case “a complete precedent”.

If successful, it could force councils to take into account previously disregarded factors such as race relations when making licensing decisions.

London Citizens Chinese community team leader Nikki Lee said Chinatown was in danger of turning into “Gamblingtown” and that companies were “exploiting” the Chinese attitude to betting.

She said: “Gambling is widely accepted in Chinese culture – a culture where there is great emphasis placed on good or bad fortune and lucky or unlucky omens. It can be argued that Chinese people are particularly vulnerable to gambling.”

Ms Lee cited case studies in which gambling had led to the breakdown of marriages and plunged people into debt.

City Hall licencing chiefs have previously argued that they cannot make decisions based on the ethnic make-up of an area.

In November, Councillor Brian Connell, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for business, said: “We could not possibly refuse, or would wish to refuse, a licence on the basis of race – be it Chinese or any other – or seek to exclude a race from using betting shops in case they are tempted into gambling.”

But speaking yesterday, Mr Stein said: “We are considering with London Citizens bringing a judicial review of the licensing decision by Westminster City Council. This is completely a precident as it is about the grounds on which the council makes decisions as to whether to grant licences to betting shops. The council said it could not take into account the impact these shops have on the community. This case is about challenging that.”

While campaigners say that it is “patronising” to suggest that race alone is a factor in gambling addiction, many point out that immigrants are among the groups most likely to frequent betting shops.

Chinese Welfare Trust director Merlene Emerson said: “The Chinese community and the migrant community is particularly vulnerable because some of them are financially disadvantaged and are new immigrants here who want to try their luck in gambling. This case needs to be seen as a test case so that in other communities, where councils are granting freely these gambling licences, the community will be protected.” 

At yesterday’s hearing the district judge did not award costs against the campaigners, who are hoping to apply for a court order limiting their liability to £5,000.

In order to do so, they must prove the case is being brought “in the public interest”.

Westminster City Council said it could not comment on an ongoing case.