Following UK Prime
Minister, Gordon Brown's call for a review of the casino and gambling industry
in England, all that talk about super-casinos may end up being just talk after
all. Going against Tony Blair's beliefs, Brown has got it that regeneration is
a choice alternative to tax generating casinos in the UK.
Following a question
from Andy Reed MP (Labour), who incidentally stirred the pot up by openly
suggesting that super casinos would increase gambling addiction, Brown
confirmed that he is not looking to turn the UK gambling market into a Las
Vegas of sorts.
After the passing of
the UK Gambling Act, one super casino and several smaller casinos were given
legislative life, which in itself, drummed up enough controversy to get both
sides arguing amongst themselves. The pro-gamblers would not settle for just
one super casino, while the anti's did not want one to begin with. It seemed
that Manchester officials were the only one's not complaining, being they were
named the benefactor of the super casino.
Other cities in the
running felt shunned, while the British Casino Association (BCA) took up a
cause to protect existing UK casinos who would certainly lose out on business
from an onslaught of seventeen regional casinos - as the Gambling Act called
for.
And while the BCA lost a high court ruling on the matter, Prime
Minister Brown is saying that Parliament is divided on the matter. The only thing
that is agreeable right now is that a consensus is still needed. The BCA is
pushing for a swift resolve on the matter as they continue voicing their
concerns.