Gambling is good!

	The more (super casinos) you have the more benefits there are

Britain’s soaring £50bn a year gambling habit is a ‘good thing’ which will lead to the opening of more casinos, says the gambling industry’s leading academic.

Figures released from a report by Prof Leighton Vaughan Williams, director of the betting unit at Nottingham Trent University, caused widespread shock when they showed a seven-fold increase in gambling turnover since 2001.

This was the date at which the Government abolished betting tax, instead relying on betting firms paying them a 15 per cent levy on bookies’ profits.

Since then the internet and increased television coverage have increased competition in the bookmaking market immeasurably and given punters access to more games and more sports.

Vaughan Williams says the Government could be missing out on potential tax revenues, which at around £500m are virtually the same as they were in 2001.

However, the political battle remains focussed on controversial ‘super casinos’, which would encapsulate not only accepted gambling games but also sports and leisure facilities. In the original Gambling Bill there were plans for eight, but this was later compromised at one.

With 27 urban councils now bidding to play host to the super-casino, and with each promising to create 3,000-4,000 new jobs as well as ‘massive’ potential for regeneration, it makes little sense not to grant permission for more, says Prof Vaughan Williams.

‘The minister in charge has already said that if a consensus arises within and from without Parliament he’ll increase that number back towards eight. The only thing preventing that is political manoeuvring.’

He added: ‘There is no economic reason why more should not be built. That’s not to say there are not social issues, but from a purely economic perspective, the more you have the more benefits there are.’