Clause 7 - Casino
Gambling Bill
2:45 pm
Mr Bob Russell (Shadow Minister (Culture, Media & Sport), Culture, Media & Sport; Colchester, Liberal Democrat)
I congratulate the hon. Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) on his measured speech this morning, which was more in keeping with the traditional values of the Labour party and with the spirit of the 1968 Act.
As the Minister is now in listening mode, will he tell me whether eight is a rigid figure, or whether, as the debate continues, the Government will be minded to increase the number, or to decrease it? The listening over the weekend, which must have involved 10 Downing street, was of such persuasive power that the Prime Minister felt that the open sesame approach was not the right way to progress. The Methodist tendency, to which I am signed up, took the view that there must be better ways to regenerate run-down areas of the country than gambling.
If more discussions take place between the Prime Minister and those who are concerned about gambling, is it possible that the figure of eight may be reduced? In the deliberations that have taken place so far, not just during the weekend but in the run-up to it and subsequently, has any estimation been made of the likely number of additional so-called problem gamblers that will be created? The evidence suggests that that figure may be in the region of 300,000, based on the existing betting culture in the United Kingdom. If more casinos—mega-casinos at that—are to be created, one can only assume that some consideration was given to the likelihood that that number may increase.
Can the Minister confirm that the number of high-value category A slot machines that would be established in the eight casinos would match the total number of high-payout slot machines that currently exist in the 130 or so casinos? Eight mega-casinos multiplied by 1,250 slot machines would match the number of slot machines that currently exist in 130 casinos. Can he confirm that comparison?
I would not dream of suggesting that the Minister has personal knowledge of this matter, but he will be aware that in Las Vegas—we are told that Blackpool wants to become the Las Vegas of the United Kingdom—not just casinos, but other extra-curricular activities are rife. I wondered whether consideration had been given to the prospect of other services and facilities riding in on the back of the casino culture. That is a serious point. We are talking about creating a Las Vegas-type culture in eight places in the United Kingdom. The Minister, his officials and those who have drawn up the Bill must be aware that there is more to Las Vegas than casinos.