Vote on casinos is a boost for local communities

The House of Lords has rejected Government proposals on gambling

29 March 2007

The Lords’ rejection of the Government proposals on gambling has been welcomed as an “historic victory” for local communities by the Evangelical Alliance.

The Evangelical Alliance condemns proposals to use casinos for regeneration as ineffective and unethical.

The Evangelical Alliance continues to maintain that there is no public demand for more opportunities to gamble, and that local authorities have been seduced by glitzy schemes which offer short term boom followed by long term decline.

In the Lords debate, the Archbishop of Canterbury said he was baffled by the coupling of gambling with regeneration.

Dr Marijke Hoek, of the Evangelical Alliance’s Greater City Manchester Fellowship said: “Siting a casino in one of the most deprived areas of Manchester presents a disproportionate risk to the local population, as experience shows that casinos are supported on a year round basis by regular local gamblers among whom problem gambling rates are higher.”

The Methodist Church has also expressed its concerns about the introduction of casinos.

Anthea Cox, Methodist Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, said: "Last night's decision shows the extent to which many people are unhappy with the plans for new casinos for a variety of reasons, but it will only delay and not prevent them from being built.

“Britain's churches must continue to keep pressure on government, regulators and operators to ensure that people are aware of the real risks of gambling, and to support those whose lives suffer as a result of gambling."

Gareth Wallace, Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, said the Evangelical Alliance has worked on the Government's gambling proposals since the Budd report in 2001.

The Alliance has consistently pointed out the dangers of placing casinos in deprived areas, and gave evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Gambling Bill in 2004.

“We are delighted at this victory for local communities, as we believe casinos will not bring the regeneration so desperately needed, but will actually cause more damage in already deprived areas,” said Mr Wallace.

“A New Statesman article in February 2007 stated: ‘A recent Study from the University of Illinois states that for every $46 of economic benefit from tax revenues and local regeneration there is a staggering $289 in social cost such as alcoholism and family break-up.’

“Iain Duncan Smith pointed out yesterday in the House of Commons that a major casino would be a disaster in a deprived area.

“The original joint committee fully grasped this danger.

“The Evangelical Alliance will once again contribute constructively to the necessary additional scrutiny that will now follow from this historic Government defeat.”