The UK casino market is set to be transformed after a cross-parliamentary committee stated that it saw no reason why the Draft Gambling Bill shouldn't be introduced in the current session of Parliament. The report has been welcomed by senior management and key figures from the industry in the UK.
Many US operators such as MGM and Isle of Capri have already secured suitable properties throughout the country, and there will be many opportunities for landowners and operators in what's expected to be a period of frenetic activity.
Casinos are highly regulated under the Gaming Act 1968. They're allowed only in designated "permitted areas", of which there are 53 in the UK, and required to operate as private members' clubs with a 24-hour statutory interval between membership and play. Local authorities have the right to refuse licences if they deem demand in an area to be insufficient.
Deregulation under the draft bill would remove this right by abolishing local authorities' criteria for what constitutes demand. It would also eradicate "permitted areas", in addition to removing the requirement to operate as private members' clubs with a statutory interval between membership and play.
However, the proposed recommendations may disappoint US casino operators contemplating multibillion pound investments in Britain, as restrictions were called for on the development of Las Vegas-style supercasinos after evidence from other countries showed they risk increasing "problem" gambling. Developers planning resort casinos would be required to include "regeneration benefits" in their plans in order to secure a licence, and restrictions are advised on the number of slot machines to be installed in new casinos.