If it were entertaining the new government posturing on gambling could be labelled a theatrical farce or a soap opera, but in the chaotic unfolding of the UK gambling law saga there have been further pirouettes and backward leaps this weekend. It has now emerged that the government is to write to the 16 councils awarded small and large casino licences, asking them to confirm that they still want to proceed. Some of the councils have changed hands politically since applying for the licences under the Gambling Act 2005.

Another change in policy under the direction of the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown is the plan to rethink the removal of the advertising ban on betting shops, gaming websites and slot machines. James Purnell, who has replaced Tessa Jowell as Culture Secretary, has announced that he will be reviewing the full range of gambling legislation, including the super casino that last week seemingly met its untimely demise.

The double standard over gambling advertising has long been applied. Bingo and lottery advertisements are permitted and the Gambling Act was supposed to level the playing field for casinos and other gaming operators. At the end of June the Gambling Commission, the body set up to regulate casinos, bingo, gaming machines, lotteries, betting and remote gambling as well helping to protect children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, published the responses to its consultation on gambling advertisements.

The gambling industry is in the process of developing a Code of Practice on social responsibility in advertising. Last March the Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice (BCAP) published rules to cover the content and placement of gambling advertising to ensure it is socially responsible. There was to have been an ongoing review with final full re-evaluation of gambling advertisements in 2009.

The careful thought and planning that has gone into safely lifting the gambling advertisement ban now seems to have been a wasted effort, just like the effort and expense of preparing the applications to host a super casino. Amazingly there has not even been a General Election and change of government to undo the work done by its predecessor. Just a change to a Prime Minister with his own agenda, determined that casinos and betting should not be seen as entertainment nor the industry encouraged to prosper.
(E-07.16.07)

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