Britain heading to “gambling hell” says bishop
The former Archdeacon of Sheffield is fearful that Britain is heading towards a “gambling hell� with the government solely to blame for what lies ahead.
Stephen Lowe, now presiding as the Bishop of Hulme, says the Las Vegas-style casino proposals currently in the planning stages – including one in Sheffield – are, “an unholy alliance between government and rich, often multi-national, gambling giants,� adding he expects already-high gambling addiction rates to soar as a result. Further clarifying, while writing in the August issue of the Manchester diocesan monthly Crux, Bishop Lowe said that five percent of gamblers go on to become problem or compulsive gamblers. He added that the industry’s take of £42bn a year - or £115m a day, is simply a, “a licence to print money for all those involved in the industry and, of course, the Government which collects £1.5m in taxes.�
“The law certainly needed tidying up and improving. But what values are guiding Government policy? Why aggravate the problem of irresponsible gambling? I don’t understand why we are rushing down this road to a new gambling hell?â€?
Sheffield remains one of eight cities on the shortlist to host a regional “super-casino� from an original list of 27 in total. A Casino Advisory Panel initial report said Sheffield (the only Yorkshire representative) is currently running in fourth place, trailing London’s Millennium Dome, Glasgow and Blackpool. Sheffield remains ahead of the Brent, Newcastle, Cardiff and Manchester bids. The Panel is expected to make a decision by December, based on criteria such as social impact, the nominated area’s need for regeneration, willingness to license, implementation probability, regional context, benefits to the community, unique characteristics and range of areas. Local authorities whose area did not make the list were encouraged to still submit bids following release of the short list, with Leeds expected to do so shortly.
The Sheffield Council has thus far received three full planning applications from various operators at differing locations, with one company in the running – Sun International – promising the venture would create 2,500 jobs for the city in addition to regenerative benefits. The Sheffield First Partnership Casino Task Group are expected to report its findings in October.
posted by Rex Harris