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Gaming reform pushed back another year
In the Queen’s traditional speech to Parliament yesterday, gaming reform was officially pushed back a year.
Speaking to MP’s about the government’s progamme for next year, Her Majesty said: “Further draft clauses of a Bill on gambling will also be published.”
While this lack of a definite move towards deregulation of gaming is certainly disappointing to the industry, it doesn’t come as a surprise following speculation that the Bill was likely to be postponed due to “a lack of parliamentary time.”
Paul Korolkiewicz of KPMG said: “The government has shown strong support for changes to gambling regulation as it has already issued part of the draft Bill, but it is important that the momentum continues.
“Hopefully further draft clauses will be issued by the summer, with definite plans for the Bill announced in the Queen’s speech next year.
“There are many casino operators investing in the UK in anticipation of reform, but everything hinges on a clarification of when it will actually happen.”
Culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, unveiled the main sections of the Bill in draft form earlier this month, with proposals including setting up a new Gambling Commission aimed at keeping crime out of gambling; testing operators to assess their suitability; introducing an industry-supported trust to provide help programmes for anyone with a gambling problem; and strict licence conditions to ensure operators act in a socially responsible manner.