Independent, The (London): Gambling minister McIntosh in teddy bear ambush

THE GOVERNMENT minister responsible for the Gambling Bill, Lord McIntosh, found himself on a podium with two teddy bears yesterday. The larger one, an pounds 8 prize in a "grab-a-teddy" fairground machine, will be banned under the Government's new gambling regime, considered too dangerous a temptation for children. The smaller one, worth pounds 5 and won from a 10p bet, will be allowed as a prize, provoking fury from the amusement arcade industry.

The British Amusement and Catering Trade Association (Bacta), which fears its revenues are threatened by the move, told Lord McIntosh the policy did not fit with the other measures in the Government's Gambling Bill. The planned Bill allows for the introduction of unlimited-prize slot machines in new "supercasinos".

Tim Batstone, the president of Bacta, who headed the body's annual convention, said: "Shrinking the size of the teddy bears children can win on grabbing-crane machines, while unleashing a million-pound machine boom at the other end of the spectrum, is an odd way to protect the vulnerable."

Mr Batstone presented Lord McIntosh with the teddy bears, as Bacta members asked why an pounds 8 bear was considered "more addictive" than a pounds 5 one. Lord McIntosh said: "If [the prize] is important to you [the industry], then it is important to children."

Malcolm Moss, the Conservative spokesman for culture, warned the Bill was in danger of failing because of the outcry over the Government's casino policy. "There may not be enough time before the next general election because the Government has messed things up," he said.

The committee of MPs debating the Bill have only reached clause 33 because of the climbdown by government on its casino strategy. It was scheduled to have been debating clause 132 of the Bill by now.

Government officials are still working on proposals for the process of selecting the initial eight supercasinos, in time for a public announcement next week. John Greenwood, the Conservative MP, urged Parliament not to let the Bill slip, as it contained vital laws to regulate online gambling.