Wednesday 27 February 2008

Methodist delight at decision to drop the supercasino

I am very relieved to hear that there will be no supercasino built, especially in Manchester, which has enough temptations for the young and those who are easily led. Even without a supercasino, a young man whom I know is still struggling to cope after getting into terrible debt through gambling in that city. As always, the Methodist Church warns people, especially the young, to avoid gambling. This is part of its recent official statement:-

"The Methodist Church welcomes today’s Government announcement that they will not grant a supercasino licence. Proposals for supercasinos, also known as regional casinos, have been strongly opposed by The Methodist Church.

"Alison Jackson, Team Leader for Public Issues in the Methodist Church, said “we are delighted to hear that the Government is not intending to grant a licence for a supercasino. We are pleased that the Government has listened to reason and decided against building a massive gambling complex with unlimited jackpot fruit machines in a deprived area. The Methodist Church calls on the Government to support other ways of regenerating those communities most in need.”

"The Methodist Church will continue to monitor the impact of the 16 new large and small casinos that will now open as planned. The Church will keep pressure on the government and the industry to do all they can to protect players and support people who have a gambling problem."

1 comment:

Olive Morgan said...

I am also delighted that my friend, Dr. Philip Giddings, who lives near me, has set a challenge to the Gambling industry.

"POLITICIANS URGED TO ISSUE WARNING TO GAMBLING INDUSTRY

Calls for the gambling industry to do more to help fund treatment for problem gamblers were made by the Church of England this week. As the Government abandoned plans for a supercasino in Manchester, Dr Philip Giddings, chairman of the Church’s Mission and Public Affairs Council, asked politicians to go a step further – by warning the £10-billion-a-year gambling industry that it could be subject to a statutory levy to go towards the care of problem gamblers. Out of 3,800 licensed operators, just 360 have contributed to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, Dr Giddings said. ‘The Government has eased restrictions on their industry, so the least they could do is to show responsibility in funding research into and treatment of the side-effects.’

Source: Christian Today (28/2) "