|
Lobby war looms as UK firms allot ?1m to fight bill |
|
|
|
The Guardian
David Hencke, Westminster correspondent
Tuesday November 2, 2004
A ?1m lobbying campaign has been launched to fight Tessa Jowell's plan to create new mega-casinos and remove slot machines from thousands of premises such as fish and chip shops and amusement arcades.
The campaign by traditional British gambling industry firms will fight large US and South African companies which have plans to open up to 41 mega-casinos in Britain. One big player, Caesar's Entertainment, which wants to open a casino at Wembley Stadium, will meet lobbyists today.
An email to members by Tim Batstone, president of the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta), which represents 685 firms from owners of arcades to slot machine manufacturers, has pledged a minimum of ?1m, with authorised spending of up to ?250,000 on lobbying ministers and MPs; ?500,000 on advertising and a further ?250,000 on research.
The aim is to force amendments by targeting backbench MPs, particularly Labour members who fear the size and scope of the casinos.
Bacta has drawn up 11 key amendments, such as banning unlimited prize machines and limiting big casinos to two pilot projects in economic regeneration areas, thwarting developments such as a Caesar's Palace at Wembley; a new MGM-Mirage at Olympia and others at racecourses, football clubs and shopping centres.
The lobbying also focuses on blocking Ms Jowell's pledge to remove slot machines from minicab offices, fish and chip shops, amusement arcades and restrict payouts of pub slot machines. These proposals - a central part of government strategy to remove temptation from children - will hit smaller British leisure firms and slot machine makers.
An internal letter from Keith Smith, chief executive of Bacta, urges members to telephone, email and fax local MPs to speak at the second reading debate and sign the early-day motion calling for a rethink. |
Events Calendar