Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

GAMBLING

On Monday I voted against the Gambling Bill. I decided to do this several weeks ago whatever position my party took on it, but as it happened we all voted en bloc. It sailed through of course thanks to the sheer volume of government MPs, but I hope there will be a re-think.

I am not wholly against gambling. I have the occasional flutter on the Grand National and have bought a few lottery tickets although I have never won anything. But I am against the proposals for up to 40 new mega-casinos in highly accessible locations with unlimited cash prizes on slot machines.

There are nearly 400,000 problem gamblers already in the UK (people who are addicted to gambling and can’t afford it. Experts predict this Bill will significantly increase that figure.

There is an argument, a strong argument, that every adult should have a completely free choice how he or she spend their lives and if that means punting the week’s housekeeping on Seventeen Rouge, that’s completely a matter for them.

But there are two arguments against that. First, it is always the most vulnerable who get hit the hardest, especially children. Lots of people already buy lottery tickets in the dream of winning the jackpot when they cannot really afford it. The lure of a million pound payout on slot machines right next door to Tesco may just be too irresistible for some.

Second, there are some measures that are unhelpful for society as a whole and should be opposed. There has been an explosion of individual opportunity in recent years, not all of it for the good. Already binge drinking is a huge social problem and we are about to allow pubs to stay open 24/7. Already young people experimenting with drugs is a massive problem, yet cannabis has just been re-classified (downwards). Many teenagers spend hours in Internet chat rooms, but we have seen in recent high profile cases some of the tragic consequences.

I do not want to create yet more gateways to self-harm or further undermine social cohesion.
There are many things in the Gambling Bill that are to be welcomed. But let the government bring it back without the mega-casinos and the unlimited prizes.
If, as I believe, the greatest need for our country is a stronger framework of order and stability, it is time not just to wish the ends, but to will the means.

posted by Nigel on Thursday, November 11, 2004