Lobbying Continues Over Unlimited Slots

UK casino operators have not yet lost hope of operating Category A machines and large casinos are continuing to lobby government.

Rank Gaming chief David Boden believes that the current proposals, which only allow the unlimited stake and prize machines in new regional casinos, discriminate against the existing UK industry and place them at a major disadvantage.

Speaking at a recent industry conference, Boden said: "15 per cent of the machines in small and large casinos could be earmarked as category As. If the 15 per cent value was applied, the current number of Category A machines would be around 600 across the country-less than half the number we will be able to find in one regional casino."

Michael Riddy, managing director of Stanley Leisure gaming division, was also speaking at the conference and expressed concern at the implications for the government's new regional casino pilot schemes. He said: "Will people be willing to spend £100-£200m developing one of these eight pilot casinos if they are going to be taken away in a number of years?"

Despite this question, Riddy said that his firm was still keen to be involved but was concerned about how the locations for the eight schemes will be decided.