Pardon me for being cynical here, but it sometimes appears that "build casinos" is the common refrain to many a government's problems, especially when there's a need to generate state revenue. Singapore is trying to become more "hip." How is it planning to do that? Build casinos. Macau wants to extend its lead as Asia's gambling hub. How is it planning to do that? Build casinos. Before Gordon Brown took over the helm as PM here in Blighty, his predecessor Tony Blair had a similar idea: How do you spur urban redevelopment? [All together, gang!] Build casinos.Or maybe not. There's been a big firestorm in the local papers over Brown apparently backtracking over plans to build so-called "supercasinos" (that's Vegas-style outlets for you getting to grips with the, [un?]subtleties of UK English). Whether you think it's a good idea to build these gaming temples in the first place, it's rather jarring that Brown is backtracking on commitments to let these enterprises operate. From the London Times:
Brown is resorting to that old standby against, er, casino capitalism--public morality. Furthermore, he lets on that smaller casinos--not the dread supercasinos--will likely be allowed to operate:Gordon Brown has killed off the chances of a super casino opening in Britain, in his most explicit break from the Blair era to date.
Despite four years of intense lobbying by casino organisations, an unprecedented competition between councils and a huge parliamentary effort, the Prime Minister today signalled that vast Las Vegas-style gambling dens will not come to Britain.
Although Mr Brown stopped short of declaring to the Commons that no regional casinos would be built today, The Times understands from government sources that the plan for regional casinos is "dead in the water". Plans for 16 smaller casinos may return to Parliament over the next few months.
The decision immediately set off a row with Manchester, the city which was given the provisional go-ahead to build one, and risked the new Prime Minister becoming embroiled in an argument with some of his political allies representing a key Labour heartland...
Graham Stringer, the MP for Manchester Blackley, said Mr Brown's statement that regeneration could be more effective than building a super-casino was "quite frankly insulting" to the city council, as regeneration required more Government investment.
He said that he would join with his Manchester colleagues in demanding a meeting with the Prime Minister in order to clarify the situation.
Mr Brown previously indicated his lack of enthusiasm for super-casinos, having imposed a 50 per cent tax on any large gambling venues at the last election.
By contrast, Tony Blair repeatedly indicated that he was happy for unlimited numbers of super-casinos restricted only by the market because he believed they brought regeneration benefits to run down areas.
Today the Prime Minister told Andy Reed, the Labour MP for Loughborough, that ministers would have a period of "reflection" on the future of the casino plans over the summer.
The policy U-turn was met with shock. Mr Stringer said: "I’m surprised. I would expect the Prime Minister to be defending the decisions of the House of Commons. The only reason the supercasino hasn’t gone ahead is because the House of Lords rejected it by a small majority.
"I think the Prime Minister should be saying that the unelected chamber can’t stop this happening, rather than asking for a pretty fundamental review of whether or not the casino happens."
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme, the MP added: "To regenerate areas you have to bid for investment or the Government has to put investment in. Unless the Government is going to replace that level of investment, which would create at least 1,000 jobs, then nothing is going to happen in one of the most deprived parts of this country."
During prime minister's questions, Mr Brown was told by Labour MP Andy Reed that most people thought super-casinos would make gambling addiction worse.
The prime minister replied the issue would be "subject to reflection over the next few months".
"In September we will have a report that will look at gambling in our country - the incidence and prevalence of it and the social effects of it," Mr Brown said.
"I hope that during these summer months we can look at whether regeneration in the areas for the super-casinos maybe a better way of meeting their economic and social needs than the creation of super-casinos."
This row looks like a very interesting one from a political economy standpoint as Brown risks alienating traditional Labour strongholds
