Articles - The Future Of Gambling - Rise Of The Super Casino

UK casinos looked in line for a shake-up with the introduction of super casinos. These promised a treat for online gambling fans who fancied a change from online casinos.

Now, however, the future of these Vegas-style resorts is uncertain. UK Casino Times takes a look at the latest and at what the future might hold.

For a while last year, it looked as if Las Vegas was coming to a place near you very soon. The Government's Gambling Bill, which was introduced in Parliament towards the end of 2004, proposed a significant shake-up in the way we gamble in the UK, by taking gaming out of everyday locations and creating super resorts.

Under the proposals, Las Vegas-style regional casinos with up to 1250 slot machines would be created, where people could play 24-hours a day for unlimited jackpots. Initially, around 20 such super casinos were planned in undecided locations up and down the country, and these regional casinos were seen as a good tool for urban regeneration, bringing jobs and wealth to struggling areas. 

The proposals also included some curbs on gambling, with around 6000 slot machines being removed from premises such as mini-cab offices and fast food shops. This, theoretically, would limit young people's access to gambling. Under the Bill, a new Gambling Commission would also be created to supervise the industry and Internet betting, at least through UK operators, would be regulated.

Fury And Fear

However, the proposals for regional casinos were greeted with a fury that surprised the Government and even some seasoned gamblers too. 

Critics claimed that the regional casinos would lead to a big increase in problem gambling, as well as a general spread of a gambling culture. Fears were also expressed about the new casinos being used for money laundering and about organised crime muscling in. 

With a coalition of Tories, backbench Labour MPs, churches and charities against the Bill, the Government was forced to make concessions to get it through Parliament without losing it altogether.

Bets On Blackpool

At first, the Government agreed that only eight super casinos would be built, but it was finally forced to concede that only one would be created as a "prototype". The location for this super casino has not yet been decided, but Blackpool is the hot favourite.

The new Gambling Act also proposes the creation of 16 new casinos - eight small ones and eight medium-sized ones - in locations to be chosen by an independent advisory panel.

Not Dead Yet

However, there are signs that the UK super casino idea is not dead. In answer to questions in Parliament, Sport and Tourism Minister Richard Caborn conceded the possibility of more than one super casino.

"We do not rule out the possibility of asking Parliament at some future point to consider changing the numbers," he told MPs.

"We shall implement the Gambling Act 2005 on the basis of there being one, but I believe that at some stage we shall need more than one to allow the impact right across the UK to be assessed." 

Watch this space.