A GAMING centre for people aged 18 and over with a tanning centre above is planned in Swansea city centre.
A company called iLudo82 Ltd wants to set the venture up at an empty retail unit on Union Street, not far from the entrance to Swansea Market.
The unit used to be a Swansea City AFC club shop; more latterly card shop Gifts & Co operated there. The adult gaming centre would be open 24 hours a day and the tanning salon above from 9am to 9pm, creating a total of nine jobs, according to a design and access statement submitted on behalf the applicants.
The statement said the gaming centre would contribute to the city’s evening economy and boost footfall, and that the property has been marketed since June 2023 with “little interest from retailers”. Most enquiries, it said, were about non-retail uses.
A letter from the marketing agent said the proposed gaming centre appeared to be the only realistic occupier, and added: “Otherwise, the premises could remain vacant for a very long time.”
A noise assessment commissioned by iLudo82 said the development would not have an unacceptable impact on people living nearby.
Adult gaming centres were a new category of premises introduced by the 2005 Gambling Act. Only certain types of gaming machines can operate in them and there are licensing requirements.
