It has long been rumoured that the UK Government decision to limit Britain’s super casinos to one prototype, to get the Gambling Bill passed before the recent General Election, would not be binding. The Mirror has now reported that the Government is planning to continue with proposals to licence at least six super casinos. If true, it will put new heart into all the project planners around the country who had felt themselves beaten into submission by Blackpool almost before the contest had started.

The Gambling Act 2005 provides for only one casino in Britain that can have the huge banks of mega jackpot slot machines familiar with Vegas-style operations worldwide. To the pro gambling market this would not only be a monopoly but also would be unable to give an accurate assessment of economic and social impact. The draft bill originally determined that market forces would limit the number, size and locations of casinos but the uproar from the anti gambling lobbies caused the Government to reduce the number to eight and, finally, to one.

As always, those opposing casinos and gambling in general fail to realise that problems arise, as in alcohol abuse, when a person’s life needs adjustment. As Dr. Julian Taber has written: "Blaming alcohol or gambling for an addiction has important negative consequences ... it allows the patient to focus on treatment and discharge plans that deal with everything except personal change."

If the Government is ‘drawing up plans to go back to Parliament’ in a quest to allow more super casinos, the outcome of such an intention is far from certain. Opposition is still likely from the Government’s own backbenchers as well as opposition parties. However, with many Councils seeking the regeneration that a resort casino should bring to their regions, local MPs may this time be less likely to vote against the proposal. If more than one super casino is to be licensed then the selection process may prove simpler. At present with everything pointing to Blackpool as being a done deal, the selection committee could almost be seen as being superfluous.

London’s Millennium Dome and Wembley Stadium, football club grounds in several northern cities, Cardiff in Wales, exhibition centres in Birmingham and Glasgow – the list of possible locations for super casinos is long. Who will get the licences or whether there even will be any additional licences on offer is still in the unforeseen future, but for the moment the projects may – however briefly – be getting a new lease of life. (E-08.03.05)

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