Jowell unveils Gambling Bill
The Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport has unveiled the Government’s much trailed Gambling Bill.
The update of the country’s 40 year old gambling laws could open the door for Las Vegas style casinos with million pound jackpots in the UK.
However, the Government insists that the liberalisation is accompanied by measures designed to protect children and other vulnerable individuals.
These include removing fruit machines from take-aways and taxi ranks and a new industry regulator – the Gambling Commission.
Speaking today, Tessa Jowell, said: “It is nearly 40 years since Parliament last had the opportunity to take a serious look at our gambling laws and it’s not just attitudes that have changed since then. The technological revolution has touched all our lives and the gambling industry is no exception.
“Internet gambling and roulette machines in bookmakers are just two examples of where laws introduced nearly 10 years before the first home computer hit the shelves are no longer able to protect children or vulnerable people properly.
“In the face of this, new protections are vital. Levels of problem gambling are low in Britain and I am totally committed to keeping it that way. That’s why the Bill is so important. With a powerful new Gambling Commission policing these rules I’m confident the UK will become the safest gambling environment in the world.”
On the liberalisation side: the requirement for individuals to register with casinos 24 hours before gambling will be removed; casinos will be allowed to advertise in a limited way for the first time; and the “permitted areas rule” which defines strict areas where casinos can be built will be removed.
But on the protection side: gambling websites operating from the UK will be required to check the ages of all those gambling; there will be a new criminal offence of inviting, permitting or causing a child to gamble; an industry funded trust of at least £3 million a year to pay for research into the causes of problem gambling and effective treatment methods; and powers for local councils to license and limit the number of casinos in their area.
Ms Jowell added: “This is a Bill about new protections, not new casinos.
“However we will only allow extra choice where we are confident sufficient protections are in place to protect children and vulnerable people, and licences will be withdrawn if the new safeguards are flouted. This is my priority and this is why we need this legislation urgently.”
However, critics have warned that the Gambling Bill could pave the way for an increase in those addicted to betting.
