Opposition backing needed for more super casinos

The government has insisted that it would consider upping the number of proposed so-called "regional casinos" that would be allowed under its new gambling legislation but only if the Conservatives supported such a move.

At present, ministers are prepared to allow just one of the new breed of "Las Vegas" style casinos in the UK. However, a number of local authorities - and MPs - want that figure raised to as many as eight, Parliament has heard.

Sports minister Richard Caborn at the end of a debate in Westminster Hall (Commons Hansard 1 March column 101WH) said: "We shall reconsider the matter of those on the Opposition Benches say that they will reconsider moving from one to a number between one and eight. It is right to move forward in that way, and we are still prepared to go in that direction."

During the debate, former local government minister Nick Raynsford MP argued that there was a strong case for allowing more regional casinos to see whether such developments had regeneration benefits.

He told MPs: "Given the clear evidence and interest from many authorities in a range of areas – seaside areas, urban areas, more rural areas, the north, the midlands, London and the south – there must be a wider range of regional casinos from which we can learn lessons as to where they work and promote regeneration and where there are problems."

View the full text of the debate here.

Roger Milne

3 March 2006