Concerns have been raised by the press about a link between two Members of Parliament, who sat on the cross-party committee formed last year to study the proposed gambling legislation and make recommendations, and a firm that handles Public Relations for a casino company. There may well not be anything particularly ominous about this as both MPs had listed this relationship in the members' interests register, and doubtless have declared their consultancy earnings to the Inland Revenue.

However, the proposed draft legislation soon to be published may already be tainted and, if it is, the British government will be affecting the course of UK gaming long into the forseeable future and, more importantly, missing their golden opportunity to get things right for the country, the industry and themselves.

Laws should not show favour. For all the intense lobbying of politicians by the parties concerned, the government's new legislation ought to be considered and impartial. Doubt has already been cast on this premise in at least two areas.

Britain boasts a free market economy where businesses compete on an equal footing. Investors see the recommendations made by the committee in their report as very significant, and analysts have already made the point that the proposed legislation would favour the UK gaming companies already operating. If healthy competition leads to a better deal for the public, then much of the present British casino industry needs a good shake by the successful overseas companies waiting in the wings.

The second area of concern, and of much greater potential harm to the public, is the government's perceived deal with the bookmakers allowing Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) at all betting premises. At present these gambling machines are strewn round betting shops and available without supervision. Any good slot machine operator will tell you that the public have little chance of fair play unless regulations are in place to give a guaranteed minimum percentage payback. Such lack of supervision on FOBTs will make them one of the biggest contributors to problem gambling.

Current proposals indicate that the new gaming law will not make provisions for minimum percentage payback on slot machines or FOBTs. The government's woolly thinking that market forces will determine the payback is mistaken. Marketing strategies by sharp operators will have more effect. Moreover, what possible reason is there to allow the public to be 'creamed' by these machines until market forces come into play, if they ever do.

The government claims that Social Responsibility is the basis for the new gaming law, but it will be of no use to fund research projects and offer treatment for problem gambling if good laws are not in place. The lobbying - for and against liberalising gaming - will continue ferociously and all concerned must beware pitfalls such as performing consultancy work for interested parties when deciding policies for the nation. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

For a long time British gaming professionals have been sought after to work for emergent gaming jurisdictions around the world. The casino operators as a whole want sound legislation and good regulations. The new British gaming law should show the rest of the world how to do it - but first they must get it right.

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