MPs approved by 286 votes to 212 the second reading of the Gambling Bill which tightens regulations but allows for super casinos to be opened.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said her plans to overhaul the laws would protect the "weak and the vulnerable".

But some MPs are concerned that the reforms will increase problem gambling.

Is the Gambling Bill a good idea? What changes should the government make? Are the critics' fears of gambling addiction increasing valid?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Alan Preddy, UK Why is the government so keen to push through the legislation permitting 'super casinos'? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

I really don't see what the problem is - casinos are meant for adults - adults are capable of making decisions about their own lives. We don't need nannying from the government. Someone mentioned legalising prostitution. Why not? It would certainly make the profession a lot safer for those women/men who are already working in it! The government needs to take a step back and realise that adults do not need their strict enforcements - a guiding hand yes - but they are placing too many restrictions on adults.
JB, Essex, UK

If the Government wants to take fruit machines out of cafes and minicab offices to protect children it can do so without opening the flood gates to US style casinos
Peter Cardwell, Saintes, France

At a time when the government is 'concerned' about personnel debt, they then go ahead and allow more gambling, so letting more people into debt or those already in debt get more in debt, it's a disgrace.
Tim, UK

One minute we are asked to save, and the next, encouraged to blow it Mary, Herstmonceux, UK

What I found astounding was this announcement - close on the heels of a great hue and cry for the British citizens to save more for pensions to see them through life after retirement. One minute we are asked to save, and the next, encouraged to blow it!
Mary, Herstmonceux, UK

So local communities will have a say? The same say as in planning permission where a no at local level means the Prescott over rules the judgment. A Bill no one but the industry wants or possibly the Chancellor needs the money!
Bill Grigg, Birmingham UK

Why the worry? Britons have been gambling for years on the horses, the dogs, motor racing, football, lotto, etc. Do the back benchers in this country think the majority of Britons act like children? The only people who become compulsive gamblers are those with a pre-disposition to addiction anyway. As long as just as much is put into providing help for those who do have difficulty there's no reason the rest of us can't enjoy the occasional flutter.
Rick, UK

Why an earth do we need more casinos? I don't see queues of people trying to get into the two in my home town, so where's the massive demand? Obviously another method of taxing the "weak and vulnerable" to fill up the Treasury coffers.
Andrew Rhodes, Northampton, UK

Tessa who? Culture what? Anything for more tax, eh?
A Carson, Glasgow, Scotland

So how did this happen then? I don't remember any public petition to have the gambling laws changed? Did the public actually want this? All I can give is a big sigh. Once again our glorious government swings away from policies the public actually want and concentrate on interfering in aspects of our lives which are entirely revenue related. This stinks of big (American) business pressure. Might the UK become the 51st state? I'm practicing my American drawl as we speak!
Richard McPherson, Bournemouth, UK

How have we managed to lose our way? Gambling cannot improve our lives in any way and the changes in the gambling law will only harm Britain and its people.
Mrs Jacqui Franks, Devon, England

I find it hard to understand how our learned leaders deem it immoral to gallop across the fields after a fox and totally acceptable to dupe millions of gullible people out of their life savings. I suspect the answer is that the tax from fox hunting is infinitesimal but the tax from gambling is huge.
Roger Sayer, Seattle WA. USA

I am a casual casino gambler and have been ever since I turned 18, but it seems to me these plans are hasty and ill-thought out. It is not a matter of "personal freedom", but of encouraging reckless gambling with no planned support network, and the negative effects are clear from the results of similar laws in Australia, where there was consideration given to resultant addiction problems. Maybe the gambling laws do need an overhaul, but they need to be better planned than they are right now, with the government appearing to be taken in by American casino pressure groups.
Subisiso Zuma, Oita, Japan

I believe that this bill is purely designed to generate extra revenue for the government and will result in an increase in gambling addiction across the country. Having lived in Australia for a couple of years I can see the damage the "super casinos" have done and the problems caused. Not a good idea and critics' fears are valid in my opinion.
Lucy Nandi, Sydney, Australia

Hang on! I have worked hard for all the material possessions in my home, it's not much but all paid for. I would be enraged to say the least, to come home, after a day's work, to find my home ransacked and destroyed by some low-life, dead beat, attempting to fuel his gambling debts or any other debts for that matter. Oh, and another thing, Las Vegas is in the middle of nowhere, we do not have a middle of nowhere in the UK!
Davey Straker, Sheffield, England

Forget the right wing, wanna be neo-conservative, Daily Mail brigade. Casinos can be fun and a great night out, look at the examples all over the world. Not everybody wants to gamble thousands, some of us can go out and gamble in moderation. As long as they are tightly regulated and well managed what's the problem? Blackpool desperately needs a shot in the arm, come to think of it so do most city centres!!!!
Chris M, Manchester

I have my suspicions about how this has all come about. This is another case of a British government being duped by hard lobbying American corporations. Who will own all these casinos that will rush in to fill the vacuum created by a change in the law, where will the funding come from to build them all? From 'over the pond' that's where. The big US concerns have saturated their own market and are seeking to expand their operations overseas.
Ian Maynard, Basingstoke, UK

Gambling has costs for society Terry, Norwich, England

As the son of a man who used to beat his wife "black and blue" for the housekeeping money to fund his gambling habit, I find the arguments of the libertarians here rather lame. It is worth remembering that gamblers have families too, and I don't want any extra children going hungry like my sister and I did. And gambling has costs for society which has a social system that has to pick up the expensive pieces. Are we beyond saying that something is morally repugnant?
Terry, Norwich, England

This couldn't be more badly timed or more inappropriate when figures have recently shown that personal debt is at an all time high. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this will only make things worse for many.
N. Wilson, Cardiff

I find it intriguing that the arguments against the gambling bill focus mainly on that it could increase the amount of compulsive gamblers. However, there seems to be little outcry at the thought of 24 hour pubs. Would this not provide the same tool to create more alcoholics that will be a further drain on the NHS with all the drinking related injuries?
Anon, London

Since casinos have proliferated here we see more pawn shops, "payday loan" companies, and other businesses that help the poor go deeper into debt. Other businesses that sell to the poor and elderly have been hurt as they pour their pocket money into gambling. Bankruptcy is increasing.
Kurt, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

The Gambling Bill is a great idea. It will revamp run down areas in our declining seaside resorts such as Great Yarmouth and create much needed jobs. People are responsible enough not to go spending their life savings, which they can quite easily do at the moment via the internet. At least the money is kept in the country this way, and will also put additional money into Gordon Brown's pocket. I'll be first in line to have a flutter on the craps table!
Steve, Cambridge

Organised crime goes hand-in-hand with casinos. They are (both) horrifying facets of any society. Britons should fiercely deny casinos any further inroads into British life.
Mary, Toronto, Canada

People sit mesmerised for hours on end shoving dollar after dollar in Michael Green, Killarney Vale, NSW, Central Coast, Australia

I have lived in NSW since Oct 2000, after marrying an Australian and leaving the UK after 52 years. In NSW they have "Social Clubs" which are really camouflaged casinos, full of what are termed 'pokies' or 'poker machines' here. They are slot machines, now modified to accept bank/credit cards. The NSW government makes so much money from tax out of these machines that they will not tackle the real gambling problem that is here. People sit mesmerised for hours on end shoving dollar after dollar in. Please don't allow this virus loose in the UK, it causes untold misery.
Michael Green, Killarney Vale, NSW, Central Coast, Australia

Yet again we see one portion of society trying to dictate to another what they can and cannot do. No-one is forcing anyone to use these new casinos if they don't want to. Get on with your own lives and stop pressing your beliefs on the rest of us!!
Alex, London, UK

Whether people like gambling or not is irrelevant. Encouragement is wrong. Casinos will certainly create more jobs - bouncers, debt collectors and divorce lawyers. Thank you New Labour for lowering the tone of this proud country even further. I can hear the spinning already - not roulette wheels but the founders of the Labour movement in their graves.
R.C. Robjohn, UK

I'm stunned at the reaction of so many people to this announcement, and the way it's been picked up by the media. The complainants' logic seems to be that because a minority of people lack self-control the rest of the population should be denied access to something. What happened to people taking responsibility for their own actions? Thousands of jobs will be created in the construction, maintenance, servicing and staffing of casinos. To ignore such benefits because some people don't know when they've had enough is ridiculous.
Sean Fleming, Berkshire, UK

A number of people on this page make the sensible assumption that the new casinos would increase tax revenue. But didn't I hear some somewhere that it would be 'Treasury neutral?' And I don't remember hearing a clear answer to questions whether the government was negotiating with the US casino bosses over a reduction in the tax rate. Nor have I heard any assurances from the government that the new gambling opportunities won't draw money away from the national lottery, and hence from the good causes the lottery supports. Does the government really think it's sensible to risk money which would otherwise have gone to charities being diverted to the already well-lined pockets of the US casino owners?
Andrew, South London

If backbench MPs want to help stamp out gambling addiction, then why not bring in a bill to stop 16-year-olds buying lottery tickets and scratchcards? That's where addiction starts. Why punish those of us who gamble because we enjoy it and what's more, gamble within our means? Why should I have my liberties affected because some people are addicted to gambling? If people are still for banning the changes, let's ban smoking and drinking whilst we are at it� but we won't because that would be viewed as unnecessary interference from the state� despite the fact that smoking and drinking kills thousands every year!
Chris Cooper, Manchester, UK

I don't see why there is not the same backlash against the lottery Tony James, Gloucester

I don't see why there is not the same backlash against the lottery as there has been against this bill! The lottery is available at many more places; ID not always required and has large jackpots. Compare this to what is being proposed and the new bill makes sense. It will let those people who consider gambling a pastime enjoy it without subjecting it to the stigma of an underground activity.
Tony James, Gloucester, UK

It's sad to think that it's so easy to buy British political backing for something that has such an obviously unhealthy undercurrent.
Andrew Baker, London

The key issue is the sort of society we want to create. Is it one in which gambling, boozing and carousing is the norm, or one in which care, compassion and good judgement prevails? I know which one I prefer. Too many government decisions seem to promote the former set of values at the expense of the latter. Its pathetic attempt to wash its hands of responsibility by claiming that decisions will only be made with the support of the community just doesn't wash.
Denzil, Devon, UK

The government has no interest in giving people what they actually want but only in bulldozing through another form of taxation. Surely the outcry that has been loud and clear over the past few days should prove that this bill is not wanted. However, as usual Blair is not interested in what the electorate want only in how he and his caring government can con the people out of more money and then squander it.
David Shipton, Staines

As the sister of a compulsive gambler, I do not agree with the government sanctioning the opening of these super casinos. Sure they will make a killing in tax revenue, but for families like mine, it will mean more heartache as more people are sucked into a spiral of debt. The government is saying it will bring more employment to deprived areas, but it's the poor in those areas who may be tempted by the promise of easy money - that is just a poverty trap.
April, Stockport, Cheshire

Just look at freely available condoms and teenage pregnancy and abortion Wai-Kin Liu, Birmingham

Has any of the legalisation, free access to all methods ever worked to reduce or even control the crime they are supposed to control? Just look at freely available condoms and teenage pregnancy and abortion. Free access to all means taking the nation down a spiral destructive path. The brief of the gambling bill as reported by you will be one of those destructive paths. Tony, wake up! Your bills are helping to destroy the future of this nation.
Wai-Kin Liu, Birmingham, UK

The laws should definitely not change, we should be encouraging people to be saving for their pensions rather than losing their money to mega-rich casinos.
Peter Sansom, Cardiff, Wales

This bill shows just how out of touch Tessa Jowell's department is with the country. She claims that only the media have a problem with the casinos part of it yet if she looked at public opinion I think she would find a large amount of the public are against it too. She claims that the majority of the bill is to reduce problem gambling, but I have heard her talk about this bill three times and have yet to hear her speak about any specifics apart from the casinos. She also claims that the casinos will only be built where people want them (note she has been very careful not to say where residents want them), but if this were truly so then there would be no point in the law as who wants a casino on their doorstep?!
Peter Jermey, Plymouth

Tessa Jowell states that local authorities will be given a say in the development of local large size casinos. This is a clear abrogation of her power of office. My local authority, has an honourable record in trying to prevent unwanted or socially undesirable projects. Unfortunately, to date, their ability to prevent unwanted or undesirable developments has been almost unanimously defeated; as each opposed development has been lost at appeal. I am not a gambler, lottery excluded, and do not know whether large scale casinos will lead to wide scale corruption and the creation of millions of new addicts. I do know, however, that leaving the decision to local authorities whilst appearing to hand power to "the people" is, in the end just handing power to big business and their lawyers.
Chris Haines, UK

if they want to change the current laws then they could do just that, no need to bring in any change that involves bringing in large casinos David, Germany, ex UK

I am not sure if this is about changing the current laws or about generating more tax revenue. However if they want to change the current laws then they could do just that, no need to bring in any change that involves bringing in large casinos. Perhaps we should allow the change, allow the casinos and put the tax generated into the pension fund that has been "raided" by in the past.
David, Germany, ex UK

I am all for the government passing laws that will relax the restrictions on gambling and bring jobs and investment into the UK. If a tiny minority of people are too stupid to gamble responsibly then that's their lookout, a fool and his money are soon parted whether in a casino or somewhere else.
Richard Read, London, UK

None of the experts seem to realise that the problem with Casino gambling is that it encourages continuous gambling. Buying a raffle ticket or a lottery ticket is much less addictive, as you have to wait a discrete amount of time for the result. It is discrete gambling. Gambling and the sale of alcohol were in the past always kept separate - again this has eroded over the years, fuelling problem gambling. Gambling adds nothing, and existing casinos should be shut, rather than opening more.
PJ, W Yorks, UK

I have no problem with it. If you want to waste money on gambling then fine. However don't forget this is being done, in my view to swell the coffers of No. 11.
Nick, UK

This government's love of spin puts it on a par with the average Roulette wheel Glen, Welling, UK

I am for a less-restrictive country. One where I can choose to do as I please, within the law. So on the face of it I should be pleased with this new bill. But I am afraid I am not as it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This bill will see the end of Britain's seaside one-arm bandit parades but at the same time will encourage the unrestricted growth of US style casinos. Tony Blair says that he can only foresee 20-40 of these casinos being built (although has admitted not actually setting a cap) but at present there is planning permission submitted for 176 of them - and it's growing. Whose side is Blair really on, UK small businesses or US large corporations? This government's love of spin puts it on a par with the average Roulette wheel.
Glen, Welling, UK

What a great idea! Maybe we should also relax laws on prostitution too - provided we find a way of taxing that also? Studies in New Zealand suggest that the poorer 10% of the population suffer a disproportionate debt from gambling. Naturally our government expects to gain plenty of revenue from it, and like everything else they do to raise funds they simply don't think about the effects on poorer sections of the community.
Paul, Colchester

Labour's long term legacy will be to increase tax and discourage savings, pensions and investment and yet encourage the hope of getting rich quick without any effort or paying tax! The underlying message this sends out is complete discouragement of any work or savings ethic.
Martyn, St Helens

Too often the nanny state denies simple pleasures to 99% of us because the other 1% might suffer in some way. Over protection of hypothetical problem gamblers shouldn't stand in the way of the clear demand for an end to the current restrictive regime. If you don't like gambling, fine, don't gamble, but don't try and ban it for the rest of us!
Jon Cooper, UK

I must ask Jon Cooper about the 'clear demand' for more casinos. Over the last week, I've asked all my friends and colleagues, and not one of them wants this. I think the only people in favour are the gambling magnates and of course and the government.
Hazel, Cheshire, UK

Personally I believe in freedom of choice. I have nothing against the bill going through. These places will create more jobs.
Emma, Sandhurst, England