Tories ready for more than one super-casino
The Observer April 2, 2006
Tories ready for more than one super-casino
Nick Mathiason
Sunday April 2, 2006
The Observer
In an about-turn, the Conservatives are preparing to pave the way for a big rise in the number of super-casinos allowed in the UK. It has emerged that they are considering changing their previous policy, which permitted just one super-casino.
This month, the Tories will hold a seminar at Westminster to discuss the possibility of allowing an increase. This comes after intense lobbying from mainly Conservative-controlled local authorities eager to get a slice of increased leisure spending in their districts. The move is significant because it was the Conservatives who forced Labour to abandon its previous policy and cut the number of super-casinos from eight to just one. David Cameron visited a proposed super-casino site at the new stadium of Coventry City football club last Thursday .
Shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire said: ‘A large number of local authorities want to take advantage of the investment potential of a super-casino, but what is not clear are the effects and impacts that unlimited jackpot machines and Vegas-style casinos will have both on surrounding areas, and on problem gambling.’ But he would not rule out upping the limits, saying only: ‘It is essential the government sticks to a proper pilot scheme to evaluate the impacts rather than pressing ahead with more super-casinos.’
Without Conservative backing, Labour is unlikely to propose changing the limit for fear of incurring the wrath of its own backbenchers and the media.
On Friday, over 40 local authorities applied for a licence to host Vegas-style casinos, which will be open 24 hours a day and house up to 1,250 slot machines with jackpots of up to £1m. The Casino Advisory Panel will publish its list of applicants on Tuesday. Opponents fear a dramatic escalation of gambling addiction if more casinos are allowed.
