Closures, clusters and deprivation: the geographies of high street betting shops in the early twenty-first century

ABSTRACT

Betting shops have been a familiar, if not universally loved, feature on the High Street in all towns and cities throughout the UK for some 60 years. In recent years, concerns have been expressed about the undesirability of their presence in the urban retail environment. This article analyses the geographies of betting shops in six urban areas in the UK. It explores the basic geographies of betting shops in these towns and cities and specifically the charges that they show a tendency to form clusters and that they are disproportionately found in areas of high deprivation. It finds some evidence to support these claims, but recognises some important qualifications. This analysis is set within the recent sharp decline of betting shop numbers in the UK. The policy implications of these findings are drawn out.

Acknowledgements

This research received funding from the University of Winchester. Grace Nash-Williams’ participation in this research was made possible through the Winchester Research Apprenticeship Programme. This programme pairs undergraduate students with members of staff to allow them to act as research assistants on live research projects.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tim Hall

Tim Hall is Professor of Applied Social Studies at the University of Winchester, UK (email: [email protected]; Twitter: @UoWGeography)

Peter Jones

Peter Jones is based in the Business School at the University of Gloucestershire, UK

Grace Nash-Williams

Grace Nash-Williams completed a BSc (Hons) Geography at the University of Winchester in 2021. She now works as a Graduate Engagement Assistant at the University of Winchester, UK.