Independent, The (London): Letter: Gambling Bill will lead to crime and misery

Sir: Why is an expansion of casino gambling even being considered? Did I miss mass marches to Downing Street with placards saying "What do we want - Gaming: When do we want it - Now!" ? From which direction has the presumed pressure come for this change?

How New Labour to encourage more people to gamble in more addictive and intensive ways, to put money in the pockets of the casino operators and - incidentally - in the Treasury coffers! Apparently this is excusable because of the enormous sums which will in theory be poured into regeneration by the casino operators. Of course! Let the poor pay for their own regeneration and bankrupt them in the process.

Extraordinarily, this crime- obsessed government has also found it possible in this context to muzzle David Blunkett and the very real concerns about crime: since gaming brings crime as summer brings swallows, whether in the management of the casinos, in the enforcement of debt or in the provision of illegal drugs.

We're then expected to listen to Tessa Jowell instructing us that anyone who objects to encouraging addiction, social misery, debt, regressive indirect taxation and organised crime is elitist and anti- American. What rubbish! This government has already demonstrated its disregard for democracy and ethics in the conduct of the Iraq affair. Now we have another example of its contempt and disrespect for the intelligence of the electorate, which will lead only to a further weakening of its perceived integrity.

C LEHMAN

Walton on Thames, Surrey