UK GAMBLING BILL - THE GOVERNMENT VIEW

The following was issued in a press release from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 22 September 2004. The full copy of the Government's response to the Joint Committee's report can be found on the DCMS website

Tessa Jowell says tough controls on high prize slot machines to stay

When the Gambling Bill is introduced the accessibility of high prize 'Category A' slot machines will still be under tough control, the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell said.

Tessa Jowell reaffirmed her commitment to a more cautious approach to reform when responding to the Joint Committee's report on the aspects of the Gambling Bill relating to regional casinos.

Controls limiting high stake, high prize slot machines to only the largest regional casinos will not be relaxed. Available in the US and across mainland Europe these machines are not currently permitted in the UK. Category A machines will not be allowed outside regional casinos unless, following reform, two prevalence studies show that they are not causing an increase in problem gambling.

Tessa Jowell thanked the Committee for their hard work and said that they had made good legislation even better and had built a consensus for urgent reform –helping to mould a Bill that was bold on new protections while cautious on extra choice.

Tessa Jowell said: "This caution means I think it's right to limit the new high prize slot machines to regional casinos. The Committee's recommendation would mean nearly 130 more casinos would have these machines immediately." She continued that there are relatively low rates of problem gambling in the UK and that reform needed to be taken in "steady steps, not giant leaps" if it was to be kept that way.

A Gambling Bill is urgently needed because new gambling technology is making a mockery of the outdated laws. Without reform, new forms of gambling like Internet casinos and roulette machines in bookmakers would continue to go unregulated. The Secretary Of State for Culture, Media and Sport went on to say that new protections are urgently needed and that she is confident they will be able to introduce a Bill to Parliament soon."

On July 22 the second report by the Joint Committee on the Gambling Bill was published. It focused on aspects of reform, that were not available to the Committee when it first scrutinized the Bill, relating to casino policy.

Other recommendations that were accepted by the Government included children being barred from non-gambling areas in small and large casinos, and that the Government should conduct further research into Category A machines.




Home