Protecting 'children and vulnerable people' at core of Gambling Bill

Children and vulnerable people will be protected from online casinos and roulette machines, under new proposals announced today.

The Gambling Bill will establish a new regulator to police casinos, bingo halls, gambling websites and bookmakers. The new Gambling Commission will be backed up by "strong powers" to ensure gambling is socially responsible, fair and crime free.

Today's Bill, which represents the first examination of gambling laws in over 30 years, puts "vital" protection of vulnerable groups to the fore, the government said.

Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell Secretary said current laws don't take modern ways of betting, such as online gambling, into account.

"Laws introduced nearly 10 years before the first home computer hit the shelves are no longer able to protect children or vulnerable people properly," she said.

"Levels of problem gambling are low in Britain and I am totally committed to keeping it that way."

Some of the key protections in the Bill include reducing the opportunities for children to gamble by removing fruit machines from over 6,000 take-aways and mini-cab offices. A new criminal offence of inviting, permitting or causing a child to gamble and powers for local authorities to resolve not to allow new casinos in their area are also contained in the Bill.

The Gambling Bill will also lift some out of date restrictions on casinos and bingo halls. The changes will allow them greater commercial freedom, providing they act in a "socially responsible way".

Ms Jowell said: "Adults need to be treated as grown ups and allowed to choose what they do in their leisure time.

"That's why I believe it is right to take this opportunity to remove some of the more draconian restrictions on casinos, such as the '24 hour' rule."

(gmcg/mb)