Casino plan an 'insult' to Wolverhampton

Feb 28 2008 By Jonathan Walker

PLANS for a casino to boost regeneration are an "insult", according to a local MP.

Ken Purchase (Lab, Wolverhampton North East) said it was wrong to base local economic strategy on "a game of pitch and toss".

He spoke out after the Government revealed it was giving the green light to 16 new casinos across the country, including Solihull and Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton Council hopes to build a "racino" at Wolverhampton racecourse, while Solihull is hoping to build a casino at the NEC.

The Government this week scrapped plans for a super-casino in Manchester, following a concerted campaign from the Conservatives, religious figures and sections of the media.

However, Labour traditionalists such as Mr Purchase have also expressed consistent misgivings about expanding the gambling industry, arguing that casinos make huge profits while working people who use them become poorer.

Ministers have portrayed building casinos as a means of attracting investment into an area and creating jobs.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Purchase praised Culture Secretary Andy Burnham for ruling out a super-casino.

He said: "I congratulate the Secretary of State on rowing back on these proposals.

"In Wolverhampton, there is already ample opportunity for gambling, with a raft of betting shops, bingo halls and racecourses and so on.

"Indeed, masses of illicit cash are already generated through prostitution and drugs.

"It is the ultimate insult to people in Wolverhampton to talk about regeneration on the back of a game of pitch and toss in a casino."

Mr Burnham said local councillors could decide whether or not to press ahead with a casino.

He said: "The issue is entirely a matter for local decision making."

He added: "I would hope that any local authority, as a matter of good practice, would involve local people before making a final decision on what are, as he rightly says, very important matters."