Ipswich Man ‘Hits’ Jackpot Machines at Casino Causing £23K Damage

_{Merkur Cashino in Ipswich had undergone a £200K refurbishment in 2020. (Image: Robert Evans / Alamy)}

A man has appeared at Suffolk Magistrates Court charged with causing more than £23,000 of damage at a land-based casino in Ipswich.  

The court was told that the man had asked staff at an Ipswich casino what would happen if he smashed the machines up before causing £23k worth of damage.

Despite being found guilty the man continued to protest his innocence. He was given a jail sentence for the offence.   

Casino Had ‘Issues’ With Aggressive Young People

Commenting on the report one Ipswich resident said: “One of my friends used to work there (the top end of town by Warhammer). Gave it up because around 2015 onwards, they started to have huge issues with young men coming in and getting extremely aggressive when approached for ID and they'd start hitting the machines.

"Those who did have ID would start trying to damage the machines when they inevitably lost, demanding their money back etc. I'm surprised it's taken until now for something like this to happen." adds the local resident.

Another commented: “They might not drink but they are fools for the betting. Still just think of all the cost the British taxpayer is facing interpreters, jail time and all the unemployment benefits because when he gets out, he will not be able to get a job.” 

Ipswich Cashino Had £200K Makeover in 2020

Ipswich adult gaming centre, Merkur Cashino marked its re-launch after a £200,000 refurbishment in 2020.

Cashino Ipswich’s refurbishment was part of a nationwide programme of gaming centre redevelopment that will eventually see all 165 Praesepe-owned Cashino’s in the UK refurbished.

The Ipswich branch was one of just 11 venues relaunched across January and February 2020, with a total of £5 million investment in last year alone.

Merkur were contacted for comment.