Critics fear the gambling reforms could fuel addiction

Facing MPs' questions on proposals in the Gambling Bill, the PM insisted that 90% of the legislation was concerned with tightening gambling laws.

The government could face a rebellion from some of its own MPs when the Bill is discussed in the Commons on Monday.

Opponents fear the controversial changes could fuel gambling addiction.

The Bill will have, for example, restrictions particularly on access to gambling in respect of children that will literally come in for the first time Tony Blair

Culture minister Lord McIntosh was trying to reassure Labour MPs about the plans in a private meeting on Wednesday.

At question time, Mr Blair told MPs: "It will allow, as well as better regulating gambling, some of these large leisure casino complexes, probably 20 to 40, in areas that will be regenerated with hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs.

"I think as the debate proceeds through the House of Commons those arguments will become a little clearer."

The government is expected to face rebellion from some of its own MPs when the Bill is discussed in the Commons on Monday.

GAMBLING BILL Casinos open 24 hours Immediate access for public, no 24-hour joining period Unlimited jackpots in largest casinos Betting allowed on Good Friday and Christmas Day A new criminal offence of inviting, permitting or causing a child to gamble Compulsory age checks by gambling websites operating from the UK Mystery shopper surveys by the Gambling Commission to check rules followed Tighter restrictions on betting exchanges Allowing casinos to advertise for first time

David Winnick, Labour's MP for Walsall North, asked Mr Blair: "Instead of trying to encourage further gambling and debt wouldn't it be far more sensible to reduce these problems?"

Mr Blair replied that he "entirely understood" concerns but maintained that restrictions on access to gambling for children would "literally come in for the first time".

Any local authority could declare itself a super-casino free zone, he added.

And he maintained, when questioned about the potential for US companies to build super casinos, that many British companies were involved in the sector and "would want to be involved."

Lord McIntosh was expected to explain the proposed reforms in a Labour Party committee on the Department of Culture.

Committee vice-chairman Lord Dubs said he expected Lord McIntosh to "indicate that [the government] is taking notice of the widespread concerns about having a large number of these large casinos".

Conservative leader Michael Howard said the government was on "the wrong track" and that his party would oppose the Bill.

Winners and losers

The proposals include the relaxation of rules on the construction of casinos and sweeping away player restrictions.

Players would no longer have to join casinos 24 hours before gambling and would be allowed to drink alcohol at the gaming table.

We want the Government to take action now to reduce this problem - not put forward proposals that could inadvertently lead to it growing NCH children's charity

New rules on fruit machine prizes could also result in million-pound jackpots being offered.

Children's charity NCH welcomed the parts of the Bill aimed at protecting children but called on ministers to rethink plans to continue allowing under-18s to use low-value slot machines.

That "flew in the face" of research showing that vulnerable young people could develop gambling problems regardless of the stake, it said in a statement.