| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 |  | | | Jowell Says New Gambling Laws Most Protective
- Thursday, 1 Jun 2006
The United Kingdom’s Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, has spoken out in response to claims by one of the country’s leading gambling charities. GamCare has stated publicly that an increasing number of women are suffering from gambling addiction and that plans to build the UK's first Las Vegas-style super-casino should be scrapped. In response, Jowell has insisted that new gambling laws will provide the country with "the most protective legislation in the world".
Jowell also promised to shut down gambling establishments if they are proven to contribute to problem gambling. She stated she does not believe that the new casinos will cause an increase in problem gambling, but will be monitoring their impact closely. The shortlist of towns and cities competing to host the UK's first super-casino under the new laws was announced today by the Casino Advisory Panel set up by Ms Jowell. The announcement came amid warnings that increasing numbers of Britons are getting into difficulties with gambling, particularly linked to the boom in internet casinos.
Gambling advice charity GamCare has said that the total number of people requesting counselling rose 41.3 percent from 2004 to 2005, and a growing proportion of those seeking help are women. Campaigners fear that more people will be sucked into financial difficulties with the creation of a new giant regional gambling venue with 1,250 unlimited jackpot slot machines. Some 27 councils applied to host the super-casino. Only one super-casino is initially being permitted under the terms of the Gambling Act, and the final recommendation will be made before the end of the year.
| |
| |
|
