The Gambling Bill proposal put forward by the British government in mid-October is being condemned by churches for “failing to protect vulnerable people”. The critics have now also been backed by the head of worldwide Anglicans, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William, reported the Telegraph newspaper yesterday.
The proposal will increase the maximum number of slot machines allowed in casinos from currently 26 up to 1,250. In addition, the new law will liberate the jackpots from £2000 to unlimited.
Criticism of the Bill has been spearheaded by the Methodist Church and the Salvation Army, and was also joined yesterday by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff, the Most Rev Peter Smith. They are very concerned that the current proposals risk an explosion in the number of mega-casinos in the UK.
“We have never seen this type of high value fruit machine in the UK,” said Rachel Lampard, Secretary for Parliamentary and Political Affairs for The Methodist Church. It is extremely worrying as research has suggested that this kind of machine could potentially be even more addictive than previous ones, and may hurt vulnerable people who cannot resist the increased temptation.
Archbishop Williams backed the churches’ stance on the matter. He met senior ministers to voice his concerns that a proliferation of “super casinos” will increase debt and problem gambling.
His spokesman said, “We respect the right of adults to entertain themselves as they choose but vulnerable people, including children, should be protected from opportunities for high-value gambling that outstrip their self-control.”
