Blow for casino operators

Author: Simon Dexter

The high court has ruled in favour of the government and against the interests of the British Casino Association (BCA), leaving the way clear for the building of a supercasino in Manchester and 18 other smaller casinos.

The BCA had argued that the introduction of the supercasino with its unlimited jackpots on certain machines was anti-competitive and would cost their members up to 135 million pounds in lost revenue.

Rejecting the challenge in a written judgment, the judge said: “My conclusion is that each point, whether taken separately or together, fails. No basis has been made out before me for challenging the propriety of Paragraph 65 of Schedule 4 to the Transitional Provisions Order of 2006. It was properly made, whatever the merits of arguments about its consequences. The claim must fail.”

Realistically, the casinos had little hope in winning their case as the whole idea of just one supercasino was the idea thought through by an all-party parliamentary committee whose sole aim was to ensure there was less problem gambling.

The BCA’s claim that the new casinos were unfair and that there would be no level playing field was pointless as the idea was actually to create an unlevelled playing field.

The government’s casino proposals are currently on hold following the House of Lords decision not to ratify the bill that was placed before them and ministers are currently scrambling around to find a workable solution.

The Tories are demanding that the government sort out the mess as quickly as possible.

“It is now time for the government to indicate just what they intend to do over the casino fiasco,” said shadow home secretary David Davis

“We have a right to know whether this has all been a futile exercise or whether it is yet another example of government paralysis while we wait for a new prime minister.”

The sports minister Richard Caborn was more phlegmatic on the subject.

“I welcome the judgment which dismissed the BCA’s case on all grounds and found that our policy was fairly and properly made,” he said.

“We have always put social protection and proper regulation above commercial interests and this judgement supports that approach.

“We will continue to get on with the job of implementing the Gambling Act by September 1st, and putting in place the significant new safeguards for children and other vulnerable people which it contains.”

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