Lords Talk Of Increasing Category B Entitlements
UK casino operators have been given a glimmer of hope that their existing operations will after all be able to offer a slightly improved product line in the new era of British gaming.
The department for culture, media and sport’s Lord McIntosh said during the Third Reading of the Draft Gambling Bill: "We think that it would now be reasonable, without weakening the overriding precautionary principle, to increase the entitlement to category B machines in existing casinos from 10 to 20. If there is any requirement for it, we would be prepared to discuss some increase in the prizes – the maximum limit- for category B gaming machines. We could very well discuss that with the casino industry. Of course, any change of that sort would have to be carefully monitored."
The classification of automated roulette terminals also looks like reaching the most appealing conclusion for the industry.
Lord McIntosh added "We have discussed the treatment of those terminals with the British Casino Association and others and we have come to the view that auto-roulette can be controlled effectively outside the gaming machine regime."
The Gambling Commission is to control the specification and the number of player permissions by licence condition.
McIntosh added "We think that that is right because there is a reasonable basis for distinguishing the equipment from gaming machines. That will also mean casinos do not have to count those machines against their allowance of gaming machines. In other words, UK casinos will not be penalised for innovation."
The news came in a week when DCMS secretary Tessa Jowell was criticised for side stepping fundamental issues regarding the new Gambling Bill and deflecting coverage by giving national newspapers column inches on more tabloid friendly stories.
Jowell’s comments on banning the 'psychological trickery' used to keep customers playing longer in Las Vegas casinos were featured prominently on newspaper pages recently and filled airtime on several radio shows.
