According to the english version of the french european times, soho, located in the downtown westminster area of chinatown, has received numerous international tourists every day, who were once selected by reuters, the british, as one of the world's most traditional chinese-style chinatowns. In recent years, however, the traditional atmosphere in chinatown has been increasingly shaken by the growing number of casinos (casino) and betting stations, and the situation of chinese workers who are addicted to gambling and gamblers who disrupt the security of chinese ports has gradually worsened. Today, chinatown, london, is increasingly known as “las vegas”。
Chinatown's closed shop was filled with casinos
In recent years, as the united kingdom’s economy has fallen, many businesses in london’s chinatown have been shut down, but many gambling companies have set up camps and set up betting stations on the main street of chinatown. For example, british gaming giants such as ladbrokes, william hill and coral have branches or even two within 200 metres. In leicester square, on the side of chinatown, several large gambling clubs (casino) were set up next to each other as a unique “situation line” in london。
The journalists visited the site and gave a rough estimate that there were at least six casinos, nine betting stations and seven gambling games within five minutes of foot in the port of washington, london. More than 50 gambling sites were reported throughout soho, accounting for almost half of all london。
Compared to other countries, britain has extremely liberal laws on gambling. In particular, the british government, in introducing the gaming act in 2005 and formally introduced in 2007, has increased its efforts to liberalize the gambling industry and to place licences to open casinos under central government ownership, which has led to the emergence of more casinos in chinatown。
Over the past two to three years, the gaming company has been feeding into chinatown's vacant shops at a faster rate than before, twice as many as before. In april 2012, the london betting station was extended to midnight, providing chinese working near chinatown with more convenient gambling time。
The president of the chinese community centre in london, chu yuyun, recalled that, in early chinatown, most businesses were traditional restaurants, supermarkets, barbershops, etc。
“at that time, workers occasionally gambled, but they played in private places, not now. But now chinatown can see a casino at all costs. They just pop up overnight and grow too fast. Since the power to license casinos lies in the central government, the local government cannot control the deterioration of gambling in a timely and effective manner.”
The president of the chinese information and counselling centre, yang qing, told journalists that many casinos are run by large companies, so they have the financial power to run casinos when some restaurants are not well run. “and, since british law makes it easier to apply for licences to move from a restaurant to a casino, many of the former restaurants become casinos.”
In addition, yang qiang described the low-cost operation of the betting stations, which could be operated by staff with machines, space, several stands and cashiers, as a low-input high-income industry。
Chinese workers lose every week
It has a great appearance, an internal renovation test, a high quality service and a bright night. This is how journalists felt before they walked into a casino in lester square。
But inside, it was found to be very quiet and to be free of the tumultuous atmosphere of las vegas. Everyone at the main table in the “combat” is focused, and the guests who watched the war are consciously silent. There are a lot of middle eastern people at the tables, except for the chinese。
Gambling projects in casinos include roulette, baccarat, blackjack and poker. In addition to tables, gaming machines and chips exchange workshops, there is a rest area in casino with a large screen television set for the purpose of feeding and resting customers, which attracts a lot of attention. Guests who come to gamble have access to free drinking water, while those who do not gamble can visit and rest inside。
All the gambling in casino was replaced by small chips, and during the play, the gamblers did not see their own cash flow directly, but a few plates came down before they found that all the money in their pockets was missing。
Mr. Hong kong immigration wang, who was watching the war, told journalists that the british casino had always been the favorite place for chinese people to gamble, whether they had money or not. Some people are just entertaining after work, because the environment is good; others are addicted to gambling, and they fall into this bottomless hole。
“not to say that the chinese are the main consumer here, but some chinese, who lost money here, will be able to buy a few houses in england
A mr. Zai, who works in chinatown, london, said that since casano around chinatown is a 24-hour business place, some chinese workers who work late at night and do not have a car to come home would go to casino to rest and spend the night. “it's convenient, it's nice, it's not expensive, but usually they play a few games, and when they have poor self-control, they get addicted.”
In addition to casino, a place for gamblers is also a place in china street. Journalists entered a betting station on the corner of chinatown at 3 p. M. And a break at the chinese restaurant in chinatown. The four gambling machines in the bet station are all chinese but one black。
A man lost the £20 just spent in a few dozen seconds and complained to the woman on the machine: "this is so bad!"
Upon enquiry from the journalist, the woman disclosed to the journalist that she was working in a kitchen in a restaurant, was resting, was bored and came in to play, and was going back to work late。
It is understood that these premises are generally closed at 12 p. M. And open at 78 a. M. Journalists found that the content of the bets at several points was essentially the same, including football, horse racing, dog racing, etc., but that there were differences in the amount of each. There are large screens of television around the stakes, live broadcasts of events to be pitched, and gamblers are ready to track the course of major british games. In addition to this, gambling machines are popular with chinese。
Mr. Yang qianxing said that because of the short operation of gambling machines, many heavy jobs, stressful kitchen workers, or chinese supermarket couriers would be attracted. “the chinese restaurant's kitchen is heavily occupied, and they come out for a smoke, they can play once in a few seconds, and they win and lose. In addition, these betting stations are located in the centre of chinatown, providing chinese with convenient gambling conditions, and they can play a game during breaks or hours off work.”
As also indicated, groups that go to gambling stations earn relatively low incomes and work very tight hours. These people tend to feel that small gambling can be relaxed and stimulating, but are often even more frustrated by the loss of money. Moreover, not much rest has been wasted because of gambling。
In addition, he noted that chinese working in chinese restaurants did not speak english well enough to integrate into british society. They often feel like they have nothing to do and nowhere to go. It also became an important factor in their choice to enter the casino。
China news is worried that the crowd of casinos is undermining chinatown's image
With the growing number of casinos and the growing problem of gambling, many chinese communities are concerned that the continuing deterioration of the problem will seriously affect the image of chinatown in london。
Yang qing has stated: “tang street is a tourist attraction and represents the image of the chinese. Tourists come here to study traditional chinese culture and taste traditional chinese food. If the casinos continue to grow, visitors to chinatown will find the chinese to be gamblers.”
Chu yuyun believes that the increase in casinos can cause security problems in chinatown. “the presence of persons in or out of these places is a disorder, especially at night, when people are drinking and making troubles affecting the operations of other businesses in the vicinity.”
In addition, the climate of casinos has led to an increasing number of chinese gambling, leading to problems of finance, arrears, employment, domestic violence and depression, as well as the tragic loss of businesses and separation of wives。
“a little girl who went to high school came to us once and said that her father gambled and went to the casino three or four times a day, each losing dozens of pounds and almost all her monthly wages were lost. And she hasn't paid for her new semester, so let's help her, and she's out of school if she doesn't have the money
It is understood that many mothers with children at home and working women are also addicted to gambling. “a chinese woman who had previously been in gambling and locked up her two minor children in her home was fortunate that the neighbour had found out that it had not caused a tragedy, but that she was finally in police custody.” yang qing said。
With regard to the image of chinatown turning into vegas, chu yuyun indicated that the chinese community could only respond as much as possible to the relevant government agencies in the hope that the central government of the united kingdom would soon hand over control of casinos to local governments and curb the growth of casinos in chinatown. “i wrote to mayor boris johnson of london and received his reply that he would be concerned about gambling.” she said. (zenguer)
