When culture secretary Tessa Jowell unveiled major sections of the proposed Gambling Bill to a – for once! – hushed House of Commons in late 2003, it appeared the Government had finally decided to bring UK gaming laws into the latest century. At the same time, promised Jowell, protection for children and vulnerable adults from the evils of gambling would be put in place, with an industry-funded Trust established to treat (and hopefully cure) addicts.

All very laudable. With such a contentious piece of legislation, though, you just knew there was a problem lying in waiting. Or, in the case of the Gambling Bill, several.

Following the necessary consultation period, Britain’s casino operators rounded on the Government last autumn, dismissing its proposed deregulation of the industry as an attempt to attract foreign investment at the expense of native gaming companies (‘Leave nothing to chance’, pp26-30).

Subsequently, the Government has been forced to turn tail and limit the number of so-called ‘super casinos’ to eight during the first session of deregulation. That still fits neatly with the political rhetoric of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been championing urban regeneration as the basepoint for this legislation ever since the Bill was first mentioned. Cynics among us would say that such talk is received well by voters with a General Election just around the corner.

On that note, whether casinos will help run-down areas better themselves is something of a moot point. After all, gambling dens attract all sorts of ‘nasties’, including organised crime, money laundering – often on a grand scale – drug abuse and prostitution.

A humiliating climbdown from the Government, then? That rather depends on your point of view. The Tories have suggested Labour’s handling of the entire affair has been shambolic. Again, a matter of opinion.

For their part, there’ll be many CCTV manufacturers and installers licking their lips at the prospect of ‘super casinos’. The surveillance systems needed will be extensive, helping to keep the books nicely balanced for a while.

Good news for the security industry, but what about our society in general? There can’t be many people who feel that extending the laws on gambling and drinking will benefit our towns and cities. Least of all the police and social services, who’ll be left to clear up the ensuing mess yet again.

Source

SMT