Britain could face a sharp rise in gambling addiction if the government's plans to relax gaming laws are introduced, suggests a new report commissioned by the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA).

Forum Response: Casino Operators Association

Brian Lemon of the Casino Operators Association told ePolitix.com: "The suggestion that, should the proposals now under consideration by government to change the gambling laws come to fruition, there will be a marked increase in problem gambling is irrefutable in itself. Whether or not the figures put forward by BACTA are completely accurate, the sheet volume of the projected increase in gambling means that, at least pro rata, there will be a rise.

"The COA(UK) has advocated from its inception in 2001 - formed to put forward a more cautionary view on Budd et al - that change should be balanced, controlled, and progressive only once the safety of progress had been proven. The government seems to have opted for the 'big bang' approach which is none of those things despite their rhetoric to the contrary.

"The government assault on established entertainment/leisure businesses is not confined to BACTA's concerns. Pressure is also being applied to the smaller casinos to make way for the large projects by inter alia, proposing to deny them the means to compete by using reasonable numbers of machines - thus limiting the very customer choice of those who like and support their current local casino. Yet now, large casinos will have unlimited machines and the resort casinos will doubtless top 1,500 machines, a huge disparity and an ethos change in British gambling.

"Progress should undoubtedly be allowed and competition is a healthy thing in itself. But not the sort of laissez-faire being introduced for gambling on the super scale. Gambling is not a natural 'free trade' product; it needs control, regulation and close direction with due regard to its impact on the community at large, not the revenue take for Treasury.

"We must disagree with the government. Since 1997 it has been abundantly clear that there is a strong Treasury push to increase revenue from gambling, and not just casinos. But the lure of the inward investment has proved too irresistible and any semblance of balance is under severe threat in consequence. Government proposals need looking at not just by the scrutiny committee, but fully by parliament itself. This is a once-only chance to get the balance right and to sustain the quality and diversity of gambling opportunities in this country which has been the case in recent years."

Forum Response: The Salvation Army

Jonathan Lomax public affairs officer for the Salvation Army told ePolitix.com: "The government's plans to liberalise gambling licensing, which could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of casinos in Britain, are almost certain to produce a rise in the number of problem gamblers in the UK. Despite government protestations, that is the considered view of the vast majority of academics and independent consultants who have looked at the issue, including the latest report from the Henley Centre. Not only that, the government's proposals are out of step with British public opinion: in an NOP poll for the Salvation Army 93 per cent of respondents said that there are enough opportunities for people to gamble in Britain at the moment.

"Research has shown time and time again that if you increase access to addictive activities, whether it be gambling, drugs or drinking, the level of abuse and addiction rises, yet there seems to be no indication by the government as to how they intend to tackle what will be a growing problem.

"We want to see the government commission substantial research on the likely impact of the liberalisation before it is decided upon and enacted.  Even if, after liberalisation, the percentage of gamblers that develop an addiction remains constant, the fact that more people will be gambling will increase the number of problem gamblers, particularly as the growth in gambling is likely to be in 'harder' forms such as casino games. Those people will need help to cope with their problems. The last national study of gambling prevalence, published in 2000, found that there could already be in excess of 400,000 problem gamblers in the UK.

"In many ways gambling is an unseen addiction but where it exists it can cause havoc in people's lives and tear families apart. The theme running through our research is that the government is out of step with the public on many issues raised in the draft Gambling Bill. Where is the demand is for an increase in gambling opportunities? Despite talk of regeneration with 'resort casinos' it seems the only people who will truly benefit is the gambling industry, through increased profits, and the government with increased tax revenue.

"The other main findings of the NOP research for the Salvation Army were: 82 per cent of the population believe that children under the age of 18 should not be allowed to play fruit machines. Over 90 per cent of the population thought that making gambling with credit cards more widespread would put people at greater risk of incurring gambling debts. Over 80 per cent of the population thought that people were more likely to lose money if they drank alcohol while gambling. More than half of the population, and 64 per cent of women, would not be happy for a casino to open where they live."