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| Gaming Review or Blank Cheque |
Anyone
visiting from another planet with just a tiny amount of objectivity would be
hard pressed not to conclude that the Independent Gaming Review by Sir Alan
Budd to the government was written by the Chairman of Stanley Leisure or Rank
or Gala or for that matter Hilton. On the other hand not only was a review
needed badly but the changes are needed quickly, so where do we
stand.
Well the responsibility for Gambling has now moved to The
Department for Culture, Media and Sport a move we hope will juice a more
liberal attitude. For 30 years a band of ex-army and police officers have
patrolled the casino world in the UK with very little noticeable effect and
non-existent gambling knowledge. If there is an ounce of thinking in this new
department then that quango will surely go. But on to the proposals, this week
Casinos, next time the Internet and Bookmaking.
To simplify the changes
envisaged in this report, and they may take five years to get here anyway, we
may as well say that anything goes. If you can imagine it, Sir Alan Budd thinks
its a good idea. We like his fee liberal approach but somehow its the
responsibility of government to have a view, he doesn't.
Good things
begin with entertainment in casinos, after all why not? Also removal of private
club status, this won't be compulsory but if large operators open up then
competition will follow. it won't Vegas like walk in casinos but more like the
Dutch casino chain where ID and a fee is required without
membership.
Other good ideas are no limits on opening times and more
competition by allowing any licensed operator to open a casino where ever they
want. Also a casino can offer other types of gambling like Sports Betting and
even offer online gambling based on the games going on inside the
casino.
So what's bad? Well how about letting people gamble with their
credit cards! What, are you serious? I found it hard to read that part of the
report and not think of buying shares in casino operators. My bet is that won't
get passed the House of Commons.
Drinking at gaming tables, although
good for all you poker players, just isn't going to make life any better on
Saturday night inside a grimy little club. Worse still, Tipping of staff. The
report says that it can't see why this is not allowed but then the writers
don't gamble. It will just make winning a whole lot more difficult and losing
much faster especially for the weak willed amongst us.
Then the new
games. Allow anything they want! The first games they want are Wheel of Fortune
and 3 Card Poker (Brag to you and me) which they are already lobbying for right
now.
One really good thing in the report is the new idea of "Fairness to
the Punter" and "Protecting the Vulnerable". These are great steps forward but
rather naively put. The report basically says allow anything so long as the
punter is informed of the risks involved. That doesn't sound too much like
protection. |
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