Parliamentary report on gambling – gives good news to industry
Good news came for Casino operators late Monday in the form of the parliamentary report on gambling, with MP’s recommending that the location of casinos and slot machines should be more relaxed.
Local councils should be allowed to permit betting shops to operate more than four high-stake gambling machines, which can accept stakes of up to £100 and offer prizes of £500, the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said.
Casinos should be allowed up to 20 of the machines, the MPs said, adding operators across the sector should be charged lower fees by the industry regulator, the Gambling Commission.
The Gambling Act 2005 originally set out to allow the introduction of Las Vegas-style super casinos across the country, with slot machines offering linked and unlimited jackpots.
However, the plans, proposed by then culture secretary Tessa Jowell, were watered down significantly in the face of fierce public opposition conducted fiercely by the Mail newspaper, with super casinos cast aside and the creation of the Gambling Commission to regulate the industry.
John Whittingdale, Tory chairman of the committee, said: “Gambling is now widely accepted in the UK as a legitimate entertainment activity.
The committee of MPs, from across the main parties, said the Government also needed to make it more attractive for online operators to base themselves in the UK.
Taxes on the industry were too high, pushing most internet-based operations abroad, their research found.
Malcolm Moss, chairman of the National Casino Industry Forum, said: ‘We are very pleased the committee has recognised the value, integrity and achievements of the British casino industry.
One thing is for sure Monday was a good day for the gambling industry, now the questions is when will the reccomendations happen.
Source: gaming – awards.com
