Consultation Starts on Local Casinos

11.26.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 31st Jul 2006

The Council has embarked on a round of public consultations (to end on 20th October) on the principles to be followed in issuing licensing for gambling under the new 2005 Gambling Act. The key concerns are the need to prevent gambling being a source of crime or disorder; to ensure that it is 'fair and open'; and to protect vulnerable people including children. A key issue is whether the Borough should have a casino but there are also implications for more modest premises with gaming machines. Moral considerations are not being addressed.

Vincent Cable MP said: "I opposed this legislation when it went through Parliament. It was largely introduced under pressure from big US casino operators whose influence has been exposed through John Prescott's antics. There was also some support from councils in some seaside towns like Blackpool or relatively poor northern cities who saw casinos as a means of regeneration and generating new sources of income. I suspect that their hopes are based on wishful thinking; but I am absolutely certain that there will be no such demand in this Borough and that a casino would be strongly opposed. A bigger danger is that it will be easier to establish small but tacky 'arcades' which help gambling addicts indulge their habit, which has very damaging effects on individuals and family life."