Gambling Bill diluted
The Government has accepted a deal on the Gambling Bill which will see the legislation passed, but only one regional casino will be allowed.
In the struggle to save the legislation the Government agreed that there would be only one regional supercasino as a pilot rather than the eight previously included in the bill.
The compromise comes as the Government struggles to get as much legislation as possible through before Parliament dissolves on Monday.
Initially the Government had proposed as many as 20 super-casinos but was forced to accept the compromise in order to get other elements of the bill – such as the establishment of the Gambling Commission and regulation in Internet gambling – on to the statute books.
The agreement was welcomed by Shadow Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, who stressed there was much to support in the bill.
He said that measures like the Gambling Commission and regulation of Internet gambling “are necessary and uncontentious”.
Mr Whittingdale added: “However, the provisions of the Bill relating to casinos remain highly controversial and have not had proper scrutiny in Parliament. Regional casinos are an entirely new concept for the UK and there are real fears about the impact they may have on crime and gambling addiction.”
He suggested that the prototype casino should be located in a leisure resort like Blackpool where there is a strong regeneration potential.
Don Foster, the Liberal Democrats culture spokesman also welcomed the deal, saying it “crucially allows for the rapid introduction of a tougher regulator whose remit will include internet gambling.”
Reiterating the Lib Dems concern about unlimited jackpot machines, he added: “Once the supercasino pilot is over, we’ll be in a much better position to judge the impact on problem gambling of this untried and untested form of gaming.”
