Home Blogs & Views Birmingham Mail Columnists Jon Walker
Hemming goes all-in to fight supercasino
THE nation will learn in a fortnight where Britain's first supercasino is to be built, but we already know it won't be in Birmingham.
The official Casino Advisory Panel has already rejected proposals for a casino in the city or at the NEC site in Solihull or in Coventry.
But if Yardley MP John Hemming has his way, the regional casino may never go ahead at all.
The government's plan is allow the creation of a casino covering two square miles with 1,250 fruit machines. The casino operator will be able to offer any jackpot they like.
But the British Medical Association has warned that making it easier to gamble will create more gambling addicts, who will need medical health.
And a study by the Metropolitan Police concluded more children and teenagers will develop gambling problems.
Now Mr Hemming (Lib Dem), who backed Solihull's plans for a supercasino at the NEC, has suggested in a Commons motion that any supercasino should be blocked unless local residents support it in a referendum.
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