'The Times' Report

Report on The Times (Monday, March 13^th, 2006)

“Secret Plan To Open A Thousand Casino’s”

A few months ago the Parliament decided to limit the amount of Casino’s in the UK to one Super Casino and 16 smaller ones. ‘The Times’ today have revealed that there has been evidence of a lot more being built, plans show that 1000’s more are to be built in the following decade.

“Government Report reveals that hundreds could be built every year” says ‘The Times.’ The newspaper tells us that according to the Deputy Prime Minster there are twice as many gamblers in the UK than once though. Surely the huge increase of Casino’s would feed their addiction, and create even more problems?

The plans have developed under John Prescott’s authorization, and it is said that there might be over 40 Super Casino’s being built along with the 100 smaller ones each year. It is possible that many will be placed on our high-streets.

‘The Use Classes Order, Casino’s And The Gambling Bill’ is described in ‘The Times’ as “dramatic and negative.” The bill itself mentions how it could prove to be very negative, possibly resulting to the decrease of cities, adding to present social problems such as ‘binge’ drinking, leading to an increase in antisocial behaviours. The report also says that 24 hour licensed Casino’s will lead to noise and litter.

There are approximately 70,000 gambling addicts in the UK, and having regional Casino’s along with other smaller Casino’s will surely increase the number.

The language used in the article was very advanced, using words such as “beleaguered.” It was also based purely on facts and quotes. Although there was no personal opinions showed, the article was based around the worry of social situations, how it will contribute to problems around binge drinking and anti social behaviour.

In my opinion the increase in Casino’s will have more negative outcomes than positives. I have worked in a Bingo hall in the past and was faced with gambling addicts daily, and it is not a pretty picture, people would put thousands down a slot machine in one day. It was sad to see and I believe that if there are more Casino’s available there will become an increase in sufferers. I do not agree with ‘The Times’ on the connection with binge drinking, in gambling places people more often than not stay in one place and gamble, they are not there on a mission to drink. I believe the positives will be an increase in job opportunities, and a rise in the wealth of businesses. Casino’s will mean more attraction to cities that might be lacking with business, the increase in Casino’s means that there will be more attention to smaller businesses, bringing in more people from outer cities.