GAMBLING

That this House notes with concern that the Government is to increase the number of regional casino licences above the present cap of one despite the significant public concern about the social effects of gambling deregulation; welcomes the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 that empower local councils to introduce a blanket policy not to issue new casino licences; calls on the Government to introduce swiftly any accompanying guidance to the Gambling Act and to end uncertainty amongst businesses and local communities; disagrees with the role of unelected and distant regional assemblies in the allocation of casino licences; and believes that local communities, via their elected and democratically accountable local councils, should have the final say on the introduction of any new casino licences.