----------------- ----------------- |  | | Last Updated: Monday, 1 November, 2004, 11:11 GMT |
Bill breakdown: The Gambling Bill
| | BBC Parliament offers a summary of the tenets of the government's Gambling Bill. Main provisions The creation of a new Gambling Commission to supervise the industry. The commission will be required to promote "socially responsible gambling" through licence conditions and a new code of practice. The establishment of a new licensing regime (overseen by the new commission) which takes the responsibility for approving premises away from local licensing justices. Casinos will be allowed to be sited anywhere, rather than merely in certain "permitted" areas. They will be open to the public rather than operating as 24-hour membership clubs. Casinos will be designated as "regional","large" or "small". Regional casinos will be permitted to offer unlimited jackpots, whilst the smaller casinos will offer more limited jackpots. The location of slot machines will be regulated, so that machines will have to be removed from fast food restaurants, taxi offices and other premises. Racecourse betting on Good Friday and Christmas Day will be permitted for the first time Bill's progress This bill stems from an initial report by Alan Budd in 2002. March 2002: White Paper launched. November 2003: draft Gambling Bill published. 19 October: Gambling Bill, in its present format published. 1 November: Second Reading in Commons: passed 286 votes to 212. Objections Deregulation of the gambling laws may cause a rise in gambling. The lifting of siting restrictions on casinos may see constituencies plagued by gambling and its attendant problems. Some religious groups will oppose the lifting of restrictions on Christmas Day and Good Friday racecourse betting. Opposition positions Most parties recognise the need for legislation in the gaming sector, and are broadly supportive of the thrust of deregulation. When this legislation was first mooted, in 2002, the Conservatives published a press release which said that they "welcomed plans to liberalise the laws on gambling". Michael Howard has now stated that his party opposes the Bill. In 2002, the Liberal Democrats said that "at last Britain is moving with the times, giving British resorts the opportunity to challenge America as a destination for casino holidays...It will be warmly welcomed by those members of the public who enjoy a bit of a gamble for recreation, as well as those who gain employment from new developments." They are opposed the parts of the bill concerned with large regional casinos. But they are in favour of "about 80% of the bill", concerning regulation, internet gambling, and updating out-dated laws. Some Labour backbenchers are unhappy with the super-casino aspects of the Bill. Frank Field (Birkenhead) has tabled an early day motion (EDM) which questions "why it is necessary to link this reform to contentious proposals allowing the establishment of mega casinos". The EDM has been signed by 18 Labour MPs, and 29 backbenchers rebelled and voted against this this bill. BBC Parliament will be broadcasting the Second Reading debate on the Gambling Bill from 1530 GMT on Monday 1 November.
| |  FROM OTHER NEWS SITES: Reuters UK Gambling Bill over first hurdle - 20 hrs ago Sky News Commons Rebellion Over Gambling Bill - 21 hrs ago Independent Labour MPs vent their anger at gambling reforms by halving Government's majority - 25 hrs ago Telegraph* Major rebellion on gambling - 25 hrs ago * Requires registration The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites  SEE ALSO: 
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