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| Tories warn of casino 'loophole' | Tories warn of casino 'loophole' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A loophole in new gambling laws could lead to 14,000 high-value slot machines being installed around the UK, the Conservatives have warned. | |
| Casino companies with smaller licenses could challenge larger rivals on competition grounds, it is feared. | |
| Successful challenges could lead to all casinos being allowed to offer high-value payouts, the Tories argue. | Successful challenges could lead to all casinos being allowed to offer high-value payouts, the Tories argue. |
| The department of Culture, Media and Sport has said it would "strongly resist" any legal challenge. | |
| The casino companies are not thought to be planning legal action at the moment but the Conservatives have written to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell warning of their fears. | |
| The party says the possibility of more high-value machines in existing casinos is a completely different prospect to what has been discussed in Parliament up until now. | The party says the possibility of more high-value machines in existing casinos is a completely different prospect to what has been discussed in Parliament up until now. |
| Licences granted | Licences granted |
| Months of speculation over which city would be chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino came to an end in January when Manchester was announced as the winner. | Months of speculation over which city would be chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino came to an end in January when Manchester was announced as the winner. |
| What is being proposed could potentially result in 14,000 additional high prize gaming machines being introduced into the British market - we are not prepared to let that happen DCMS spokeswoman | |
| The city will get a venue for up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot gaming machines. | The city will get a venue for up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot gaming machines. |
| Licences were also granted last month for new "large" casinos - with up to 150 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000 - to Great Yarmouth, Hull, Newham, Middlesbrough, Solihull, Milton Keynes, Leeds and Southampton. | Licences were also granted last month for new "large" casinos - with up to 150 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000 - to Great Yarmouth, Hull, Newham, Middlesbrough, Solihull, Milton Keynes, Leeds and Southampton. |
| The Casino Advisory Panel granted more licences for "small" casinos - with up to 80 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000 - to Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton. | The Casino Advisory Panel granted more licences for "small" casinos - with up to 80 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000 - to Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton. |
| Meanwhile, a growing number of MPs are signing up to parliamentary motions that could delay approval of the casinos' locations. | Meanwhile, a growing number of MPs are signing up to parliamentary motions that could delay approval of the casinos' locations. |
| Nearly 60, mainly Labour, MPs have signed a Commons motion calling for the location to be switched to Blackpool. | |
| 'Protecting children' | |
| A DCMS spokeswoman said: "There will be an opportunity for Parliament to debate the decision on the floor of the House and it will have a final say in a vote." | |
| On Conservative fears of legal challenges by small casinos, she said: "No proceedings have been served and any proceedings would be strongly resisted. | |
| "We have planned the number of casinos with new gaming machine entitlements so we can undertake a proper assessment of their social impact. Our priority is to protect children and vulnerable people. | |
| "What is being proposed could potentially result in 14,000 additional high prize gaming machines being introduced into the British market. We are not prepared to let that happen." |