Gaming News

Manchester supporter used to lobby for Blackpool

ENGLAND – As reported by Blackpool Today: "An expert who helped Manchester's successful bid for the UK's first supercasino had previously lobbied for Blackpool, it was today revealed.

"Paul Bellringer, an expert on gambling addiction, was seen as instrumental in securing Manchester's controversial victory.

"As a director of the consultancy firm Responsible Gambling Solutions, hired by Manchester City Council to assist with its bid, he helped lobby ministers and even presented the city's case to a public inquiry session organised by the Government's Casino Advisory Panel (CAP).

"…Mr Bellringer, then the director of GamCare, a charity that examines gambling addiction and its effects, was involved in the drafting of the Government's 2001 gambling legislation.

"In a promotional video for Blackpool's bid, he said: '[GamCare] support the notion that because a casino is breaking the mould of the way we have done it in this country before, it should be tried out in one area only, and Blackpool, with its unique-make up, seems to be the ideal place for this to happen.'…"

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