Evening Standard (London): Jowell shocked by fury over revolution in gambling laws

CULTURE Secretary Tessa Jowell today said she would be " listening hard" to calls by Labour MPs for a cap on the number of Las Vegas- style casinos.

As the controversial Gambling Bill returned to the Commons for its second reading, Ms Jowell said that it was "in no one's interest that mega casinos sprout across the country".

Writing exclusively for the Evening Standard, she admitted that there was "real concern that our proposals will fundamentally alter public life - and not for the better".

Ms Jowell insisted that the Government was determined to reform the country's outdated gaming laws and pointed out that the number of Britons due to visit Las Vegas is set to rise to half a million next year.

But the minister accepted that she had not been prepared for the "level of fury" about moves to allow the creation of " megacasinos" with slot machines offering Pounds 1 million jackpots.

About 30 Labour backbenchers have threatened to rebel over the legislation and the House of Lords is gearing up to block it unless super-casinos are limited to about 40.

will be difficult to write a legal cap into the Bill but the Government is exploring strengthening plans to give residents a veto.

But the Tories today stressed the extent of the opposition the Government faced, declaring that they would vote against the Bill unless radical new safeguards were introduced.

Shadow culture secretary John Whittingdale said Ms Jowell's concessions appeared "too little too late". Mr Whittingdale said that the minister had failed to adopt sensible proposals by a parliamentary committee on the draft Bill. The committee suggested increasing the minimum size of mega-casinos to make sure a tiny number were built.

Penny Cobham, chairwoman of the British Casino Association, also today urged Ms Jowell to go further and introduce a threeyear ban on the introduction of Pounds 1million slot machines.

Meanwhile, Labour MPs fear the expansion of US-style casinos will hit Labour at the polls, as many voters worry about the impact on their local area.

A poll by YouGov today showed the country to be deeply divided over the issue, with more people backing the Government's plans overall than those opposing it.

But most people are worried about the impact the plans will have on gambling addiction.