Gambling companies win jackpot from negligent Government (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Gambling companies win jackpot from negligent Government

January 5, 2009 4:18 PM

Councillor Terry Stacy

Gambling industry lobbyists scored a jackpot this week as the Government caved in to their demands to allow more high stakes gambling in arcades. Islington's Liberal Democrat councillors have warned that this opens the way for more big gambling losses in all of Islington's arcades.

New Government rules will allow all arcades to double the stakes on many of their machines from 50p to £1 - and double the prizes from £35 to £70. This change will see many more high stakes machines being introduced to Islington arcades.

The Government's own documentation, available online, makes it clear that the new changes were written by lobbyists for the gambling industry. But it is also estimated that the new changes to the rules will raise an extra £27 million a year for the Government in VAT.

Public Protection Chief Liberal Democrat Councillor Terry Stacy JP said:

"We've been fighting against the proliferation of high stakes arcades. High stakes gambling machines let people lose a lot of money very quickly, putting vulnerable people at more risk. We've even gone to Westminster to put our concerns directly to the Minister in charge.

"So for the Government to then go on and make a decision like this is a real slap in the face.

"What's worse is that the Government freely admits that this decision was dictated by the gambling industry and their lobbyists. It's clearer than ever that the Labour Government just aren't on our side, and are only interested in big business."

In November 2008 applications by a gaming company to split gaming centres and open each unit as a new arcade with a separate door and a new name were refused by Islington Council. More information is online at: http://islington-libdems.org.uk/news/001354/mickeytaking_gambling_companies_slapped_down_by_council.html