Forget The Super Casino, It’s Time For The Super Church
NO super casino. No big tent politics in the big tent in south-east London.
So no super casino for Manchester. Unlucky. You lose. Government decision is final. At least you Mancunians have your trams to keep you amused.
The Government says a super casino thing would have been less than super. It would, the protectors conclude, have fuelled problem gambling. Hazel Blears, the shrill Communities Secretary, says the massive gaming halls would have added little to local economies. Do we believe her?
The Government cares for local economies. It cost over £1million for the councils interested in hosting a super casino to submit their bids. The local economies must be delighted at the Government’s fiscal nous.
But there will be eight large casinos. And there will be eight small casinos. The top slot machine pay out will be £4,000. Why £4,000 and not, say, £10,000 is unclear. Perhaps the Government can hold a review and find out.
To do so would be responsible. But did you know that “only 360 out of 3,800 licensed operators have so far this year made contributions to the Responsibility In Gambling Trust”?
Boyish Andy Bunham, the eager Culture Secretary, tells us it is so; so it must be.
But he is not here to praise such largesse in the gaming industry. He is here to say: “This is not acceptable. Promises have to be kept.” And, no, the Government never promised a super casino, it just encouraged you to believe there would be one.
What we need is a statutory levy on gambling firms. This is something the Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested. And we all know how very wise and on the ball he is.
In any case, not everyone who visits a casino will gamble. The new casinos will be expected to provide non-gaming zones. Here, customers can take a break from gambling, count their winnings or sob.
Or pray. Or meet a trained therapist who will explain that poker is a game of skill and chance, whereas a therapist earn up to £100 an hour.
The zones idea is a good one. Anorak hopes it is extended to football clubs, allowing space for fans to retreats from the game and gather themselves. This should lessen instances of boredom, rowdiness and thuggery.
The Government is setting out, it seems, to make gambling a point of debate. Where once was the super casino is now a pseudo-religious moratorium on how moral it is to spend your own money on a night out.
And if a casino should come with an in-house Church or a mosque…
Posted: 27th, February 2008 | In: Sports Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
