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| | | January 25 - UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair's news that he plans to introduce a bill allowing 'Las Vegas' type casinos into the UK gaming industry has ruffled feathers among some top UK gambling companies.
The companies, led by Rank Group Plc and Gala Group Ltd, are claiming that their businesses will be hurt by this competition and are fighting the bill. The British Casino Association, which is representing the two UK gaming heavy-hitters, have said that the bill favors US operators and will jeopardise the current gambling industry worth $11.5 billion a year and many of the 100 000
jobs the industry generates.
The bill will allow 24 new casinos to join the industry, over and above the 134 currently in the UK, and 8 'super-casinos' like the ones operated by US heavyweights, Caesars Entertainment Inc and MGM Mirage. The move
is set to inhibit the number of small and medium casinos, operated by UK casino companies.
Said Neil Goulden, CEO of Britain's largest bingo chain, 'We cannot fathom why the government wants to put a cap on small to medium casinos. In doing so, people who have been involved in our industry for over 40 years will soon be at a disadvantage'. Added Rank gaming division MD, David Bowden,
'We fear that as soon as the new casinos open, our range of restricted products will give us a disadvantage, competitively.'
Another aspect of the bill is the introduction of legislature to restrict the use of slot machines in pubs and other public places in a move to help prevent children from gambling. The UK government claims that the new bill has been designed to 'revamp' the nation's outdated gambling laws as well as
to help uplift many of its economically depressed seaside resorts.
The bill is not expected to effect online casinos or online gambling.
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