Arts minister, Richard Caborn, has told a parliamentary committee that he is redrafting clause 7 of the UK gambling Bill, which pertains to the introduction of so-called super casinos to the country. The revision is expected to limit the amount of super casinos to six and introduce a three-year pilot scheme where the effects of the casinos can be closely monitored.
A DCMS spokesperson told the Scotsman newspaper, 'we are still reflecting on the points and concerns that have been raised about casinos… amendments are being put in place to assuage concerns about the proliferation of casinos.”
The government’s position will be seen as a climb down following the powerful media and political backlash which greeted the Bill.
Meanwhile, at the EIG conference this week in Sitges, Spain, Chairman of the Bill’s Joint Scrutiny Committee, John Greenway MP warned iGaming operators that they could face a similar backlash.
“What has happened over the past two weeks regarding casinos could happen to you,” he said. “It may appear to come out of the blue, but the media’s ability to manufacture a story should not be underestimated.”
The Bill is due before the Commons again on Tuesday.
