Gambling free-for-all is shelved

29 May 2003

Labour's plans for a gambling free-for-all are set to be shelved in an embarrassing climbdown by ministers. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced the shake-up just over a year ago, amid predictions of a casino on every High Street.

It would have let casinos open 24 hours a day and offer million-pound slot machine payouts, and could have raised £1.5bn a year in tax.

But the Government's crowded Parliamentary timetable means a gaming law is not expected in this autumn's Queen's Speech, which sets out legislation for the coming year. It is set to be postponed until after the next General Election - and may never be introduced at all.

Jowell had wanted a gaming Bill that would also privatise the Tote and change National Lottery licence terms, with Camelot likely to lose its exclusive right to run draws. These changes are expected to go ahead separately. No final decision has been taken, but a well-placed source said: 'It looks more likely every day that we will lose gambling.'

Parliamentary time has been lost partly because of Tony Blair's pledge to halve the number of asylum applicants by September. New measures have been announced to tackle the asylum issue and some will need legislation.

A climbdown on gambling will be greeted with dismay by gaming bosses, who hoped to make billions of pounds. Analysts calculated the industry's turnover could have jumped from £7bn a year to £10bn. That could have reaped £1.5bn annually in taxes.

Some Labour Party donors are likely to be disappointed, including Peter Coates, owner of Provincial Racing and director of internet bookmaker Bet365, and Michael Watt, head of Octagon CSI, which sells satellite TV racing coverage.

The shake-up would have seen Blackpool become Europe's gambling capital with a £1bn complex planned. It would have ushered in US-style casinos with floorshows and huge slot-machine jackpots. Bingo halls were to be allowed to have Lottery-style rollovers, roulette wheels and blackjack tables.

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