Islington Council declare they will continue to fight against Holloway Road Casino

Local councillors have vowed to stand firm against future legal appeals following their victory blocking a 24-hour casino at 403 Holloway Road. 

Last week, the Licensing Sub-Committee formally rejected the application from Cain’s Amusements Ltd to convert a vacant former Barclays Bank into a slot machine venue. 

Jeremy Corbyn wrote on X: “This is a huge win for our community!” and that “our area does not need or want yet another gambling site.”

The development faced overwhelming pushback, drawing fierce opposition from the Metropolitan Police, public health teams, and over 200 formal resident objections, including a rally being held outside the Town Hall as councillors entered.

Sheridan Kate, one of the local ward councillors who actively campaigned against the venue, said: “Sadly, a lot of agency has been taken away from local councils when it comes to fighting applications like this, not least due to the harmful ‘Aim to Permit’ rules around gambling licenses.”

Holloway Road was officially identified as a Gambling Vulnerability Zone under the council’s Gambling Premises Licensing Policy 2026-2028. One of the applicant’s arguments detailed that: “people would take their gambling online, which would have none of the safeguards we’re offering”.

The Metropolitan Police provided information for 443 priority incidents recorded in the ward between January and mid-July 2026 to help convince the committee to officially refuse the license. 

“These kinds of businesses do usually appeal against rejection,” said Sheridan Kate, “we’ll be fighting every step of the way.”

In response to an inquiry regarding plans for future appeals, Gary Grant, the counsel for the applicant, said: “A decision hasn’t yet been made by my client”. Cain’s Amusements Ltd retains the statutory right to appeal both the planning and licensing decisions.