Gambling shake-up 'not for money'

12 April 2012

THE Government's proposed shake-up of gambling laws is not motivated by money, Culture Minister Richard Caborn said.

Plans to deregulate the industry and end restrictions dating back 30 years will pave the way for a dramatic expansion of casinos, bingo halls and amusement arcades.

But Caborn, during a Commons debate on gambling, denied that 'increased revenues' were a motivation for modernisation, saying: 'This was not the main drive for reform.'

Although there would be a slight increase it would not be 'significant as far as the Government's coffers are concerned'.

The review, headed by Sir Alan Budd, recommended a wide-ranging relaxation of laws controlling the gambling industry, which would give greater freedoms to casinos and bingo halls, and allow British businesses to expand into e-betting.

The existing laws were 'woefully out of date' and reflected attitudes when gambling was 'frowned upon'. Caborn told MPS:

'Things have changed and changed dramatically. Reform and modernisation of the system of regulation is long overdue.'

However, the Government was committed to protecting children and vulnerable people from the harm of gambling.

'We must not lose sight of the fact that gambling activity can lead to some harm for some citizens. We must make sure children do not develop and take gambling problems into later life.' He added: 'There are real concerns about exposing some of the population to a deregulated gambling system. These are real fears and we cannot and should not ignore them.'

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