Since the House of Lords finally voted to allow 16 new UK casino licences, albeit without the one that could actually have brought about regeneration to an area badly in need of new employment, the ‘lucky’ councils awarded the 8 large and 8 small casino licences can start turning an arduous process into reality. However, more than the type of licence on offer has changed since those heady days of the Budd Report.

For a start there are the new tax laws and the smoking ban that keeps clients off the gaming floor. Then there is the worsening state of the economy and the fall in consumer confidence that affects the amount people are prepared to spend on entertainment in general and gambling in particular. Bristol has boomed in recent years yet a casino opened in 2004 is to be closed by Genting Stanley. The company is cost cutting where possible and will close its Luton operation as well.

William Weidner, COO of Las Vegas Sands, was scathing in his comments about the new gambling law and the UK casino industry, calling the situation the worst of all worlds with the new casinos not able to attract visitors from outside the catchment area but taking money from local people. In February this year he said, “The operators there in the UK worked the system very well, so they ended up with what they wanted, what I would consider to be sub-optimal, lousy little casinos that kept them in the game and kept us out." He added, "If we'd have known the game was stacked against us, we wouldn't have wasted jet fuel going over there."

It does seem strange that probably the best regulated and safest way of gambling takes all the flak, causing super casinos to be axed from the new UK gambling scene. How people ostensibly concerned about the tiny percentage of possible future problem gamblers can make sufficient noise to end the hopes of thousands of prospective employees in the construction and entertainment industries and the aspirations of many Councils wanting better times for their residents.

Southampton City Council, awarded one of the ‘large’ casinos with up to 150 slot machines and £4,000 jackpots, will be consulting residents before approving the measure. The Church of Scotland and local ministers are backing a move to oppose the development of one of the new casinos in Stranraer. Plans for a casino complex in Great Yarmouth will be considered by the regional planning panel tomorrow but they want to know how it will help regenerate the area. Middlesbrough Council is optimistic but says there is still much work to be done.

In Solihull the Council and possible developers seem to differ on the best location for a new casino, with the Council pushing for the National Exhibition Centre. Blackpool is hoping that one or more of the Councils awarded a new casino licence will refuse it and that the licence could then be transferred. There is certainly less appetite for casino expansion plans from operators these days. There is also the likelihood that if new bigger casinos open existing ones will close. Whatever happens, it will be some time before any of the recently approved licences are operational, and in the meantime there are still about 72 licence applications being considered under the 1968 Gaming Act. (E-05.22.08)

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