Christian groups fear explosion in gambling
Christian groups today warned the opening of Britain's first supercasino could lead to an explosion in the number of gambling addicts.
Tomorrow the Government's Casino Advisory Panel will announce the location for the first Las Vegas-style gaming complex, with the Dome and Blackpool heading the race.
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But a report by the Methodist Church and the Salvation Army said today that "substantial" resources would be needed to help victims of Labour's gambling reforms.
Anthea Cox, a co-ordinating secretary of the Methodist Church, said: "Evidence suggests the new casinos, along with the increasing popularity of online gambling and the general normalisation of gambling in this country, could result in many more people developing a serious gambling addiction over an extended period.
"The gambling industry and the Government will benefit most... We are challenging them to channel substantial resources to help those many thousands if not millions of people who will experience problems."
Lieutenant-Colonel Royston Bartlett, of The Salvation Army, added: "Much has been made of the potential economic benefit of casinos but that needs to be balanced against the potential devastating effects of problem gambling."
Meanwhile the Dome's owner, Anschutz Entertainment Group, warned it might have to cancel £350 million of investment in the Greenwich site if it failed to win its bid to host a supercasino.
David Campbell, AEG's chief executive in Europe said: "There is no plan B. If we don't get the casino, we have to take a view on the decision and whether we should challenge it."
The Casino Advisory Panel will also reveal sites of 16 smaller venues.
