Posted on 03/26/2002 1:54:33 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Ministers hope a relaxation of U.K. gambling law announced Tuesday will revitalize slumping seaside resorts, but some religious groups say the reforms will create new problems for British society.
Under the new rules, casinos will be able to provide live music and entertainment, a waiting period for gamblers will be scrapped, and patrons will be able to enjoy a drink while wagering at gaming tables.
The government also plans to make it easier to open casinos and will scrap restrictions on the number of casinos in a particular area, the number of games offered and the value of prize jackpots.
If the changes announced Tuesday are confirmed by Parliament, a gambling board will be set up and given legal power to enforce the industry's code of conduct.
"We want gambling to be safe, not only for those who take part in it, but also in the way that it impacts on wider society," said Tessa Jowell, the cabinet minister for culture, media and sports. "We also, however, want to see a successful British gambling industry."
Jowell predicted the changes could boost profits by more than $700 million a year. But a spokesman for Gamblers Anonymous (GA) said ending restrictions would inevitably lead to a rise in gambling addiction.
"One thing is sure - the membership of GA will grow significantly as a result of these changes," the spokesman said. The group hailed efforts to prevent children from using slot machines, but criticized the overall lack of support for compulsive gamblers.
In line with Europe
Gambling law in Britain is already more relaxed than in many U.S. states. Bettors can put money on nearly any sporting event at various outlets on nearly every major shopping street, and slot machines in pubs and bars around the country pay out a usual maximum prize of just over $20.
Casino games are subject to more regulation. A 24-hour waiting period is required before customers are allowed to gamble at a particular establishment and there are strict restrictions on entertainment and alcohol. The rules were put into place in 1968, but detractors say they are outdated.
"We've been pressuring successive governments to put British law into line with mainland Europe," said Richard Jukes, a spokesman for the British Casino Association (BCA).
"These laws were brought in at a time when man hadn't yet been on the moon, and they reflected the social attitudes of the time. The world has moved on since then, and the customer should be given greater choice on how to spend their leisure time," he said.
The government also hopes casinos will pump new life into a tourist industry hit by Sept. 11, the foot-and-mouth epidemic and the British public's increasing desire to spend their vacations further afield than a U.K. coastal resort.
Booze and betting mix
Along with GA, religious groups were worried Tuesday that the changes will lead to a gambling epidemic. The Evangelical Alliance said the new rules would give rise to a host of social problems. Alliance spokesman Don Horrocks was particularly concerned with the proposal to allow alcohol at gaming tables.
"The danger is that resorts will in the future pay the high price of this deregulation as 'problem gambling' soars," Horrocks said. "Alcohol not only impairs judgement but it lessens self control. It is inevitable that in many cases this will lead to additional social problems of crime, including vandalism, assaults and drunken driving.
"The government must now think again, resist the naked commercial interests of the large (gaming) companies and maintain this important prohibition for the sake of society," he said.
Rachel Lampard, a spokeswoman for the Methodist Church, welcomed the introduction of a gambling commission but said some of the new rules would result in greater "impulse gambling."
"The removal of the waiting period before entering a casino will encourage impulse gambling, as will the removal of the restrictions on alcohol," she said. "Often gamblers need a break to assess their losses, something that can be provided by a trip to the bar. Plus there's the fact that increased alcohol consumption impairs judgement."
Jukes, the BCA spokesman, countered by saying that casino owners already take responsibility for the problems caused by gambling.
"Our members recognize their obligation for social protection and have set up a charitable trust to help organizations for problem gamblers," he said. "But those are a very small percentage, and for the rest of our customers we're looking to provide a greater range of entertainment."
But Lampard remarked that social responsibility "is more than just handing over money after the damage is done."
"Casino owners need to put into place programs and policies that will identify problem gamblers and stop the damage from occurring in the first place," she said.
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