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Tough Controls On High Prize Slot Machines To Stay – Jowell

LONDON, UK -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Tough controls limiting the accessibility of high prize 'Category A' slot machines will not be relaxed when the Gambling Bill is introduced, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell said today.

Responding to the Joint Committee's report on the aspects of the Gambling Bill relating to regional casinos, Tessa Jowell reaffirmed her commitment to a more cautious approach to reform.

This means that controls limiting high stake, high prize slot machines to only the largest, Regional casinos will not be relaxed. Available in the US and across mainland Europe these machines are not currently permitted in the UK. Category A machines will only be allowed outside Regional casinos if, following reform, two prevalence studies show they are not causing an increase in problem gambling.

Tessa Jowell said:

"I want to thank the Committee again for their hard work. They have made good legislation even better and have built a consensus for urgent reform – helping mould a Bill bold on new protections while cautious on extra choice.

"This caution means I think it's right to limit the new high prize slot machines to Regional casinos. The Committees recommendation would mean nearly 130 more casinos would have these machines immediately. We have relatively low rates of problem gambling in the UK and reform needs to be taken in steady steps, not giant leaps, if we are to keep it this way.

"We urgently need a Gambling Bill because new gambling technology is making a mockery of our outdated laws. Without reform, new forms of gambling like Internet casinos and roulette machines in bookmakers will continue to go unregulated. New protections are urgently needed and I'm confident we will be able to introduce a Bill to Parliament soon."

The second report by the Joint Committee on the Gambling Bill was published on the 22 July. It focussed on the aspects of reform relating to casino policy that were not available to the Committee when it first scrutinized the Bill.

The Government also accepted recommendations that children be barred from non-gambling areas in small and large casinos and that Government conduct further research into Category A machines.

Read the full report at : Government Response to the First Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Gambling Bill

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