Clause 44 - Invitation to enter premises
Gambling Bill
11:00 am
Mr Richard Page (South West Hertfordshire, Conservative)
I support my hon. Friend. He is obviously suffering as a result of some sort of age gap at the moment, but I agree with everything that he said. The clause is well drafted as far as it goes. It is right that families should be encouraged to take part in certain activities. I think of race courses, where families can go to watch horses racing and to experience all the excitement of that, and the situation is the same with greyhounds. However, although youngsters will be able to go to a resort casino and take part in activities in non-gaming areas, it would be completely wrong for them to be able to see into gaming areas. All of us can remember going to a casino. People see the machines and the flashing lights. I think that that would have an enormous attraction for youngsters, who would want to wander among them or to be gaming. We should not encourage them in that in any way.
I endorse what my hon. Friend said. There should not just be a barrier that youngsters cannot cross; it must prevent them from seeing what is going on in gaming areas. I hope that that will be reflected in the appropriate drafting of the licences, when they are granted, for casinos to be constructed.