Gambling ban would 'close arcades'

Britain is the only Western nation where children bet

Plans to ban children from using gaming machines will cause amusement arcades to close, it is being claimed.

MPs are debating recommendations made in the recent Budd report on Wednesday.

The first wide-ranging review of the industry for more than 30 years, it proposed wide-ranging relaxation of gaming laws, allowing punters to enjoy all-night betting with alcohol and live entertainment.

But the committee, chaired by Sir Alan Budd, also recommend banning gambling for under-18s - a plan opposed by amusement arcade owners.

Slot machines

The former Treasury adviser said children should be banned from using gaming machines with a stake higher than 10p.

Sir Alan also proposed that the rules governing slot machines with lower stakes should be reviewed in 2006.

Britain is the only Western nation that allows children to gamble.

But amusement arcade owners argue that families support their businesses and the plans threaten their livelihoods.

Casino gambling

The report also suggests doing away with restrictions which force people to apply for membership of bingo halls and casinos 24 hours before they can play.

Casinos should also be allowed to advertise, in the same way that the National Lottery and bingo operators now can, it says.

If the Budd report was fully adopted by the government, it could lead to applications for new casino licences in towns where casino gambling is currently prohibited.

These include Oxford, Cambridge and Norwich.

Youth addiction worries

Billy Peak, who runs the Magic City amusement arcade in Clacton-on-Sea, said the "very draconian" plans would stop families going to arcades together.

The Budd recommendations would stop under-18s from playing even small stake-low prize games, such as penny-fall machines, Mr Peak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Paul Bellringer, from Gamcare - a charity helping gambling addicts - said he was not worried about those small scale bets.

But Mr Bellringer said: "There is no doubt about it that slot machines alongside casino machine games are a serious cause of problem gambling."

There were more problem gamblers who were under-25 than in any other age group, added Mr Bellringer.