The new gaming laws soon to be adopted in the U.K. will ensure better protection for youngsters and vulnerable gamblers, the British government announced Monday.
UK gambling laws will protect youngsters
The new gaming laws soon to be adopted in the U.K. will ensure better protection for youngsters and vulnerable gamblers, the British government announced Monday, Guardian reported.
The culture, media and sport secretary, Tessa Jowell, said she hoped to bring in legislation later this year.
She announced the new moves in response to a report from the MPs" scrutiny committee which examined ministers" draft proposals.
Fruit machines will be banned from unlicensed premises, such as minicab offices and take-away food shops, where children might congregate.
Las Vegas-style slot machines offering unlimited prize money will now only be allowed in the biggest casinos, with numbers limited to 1,250 in each casino.
Small casinos will not be allowed to run bingo games, and all casinos will have to have "chill-out" non-gambling rooms, Jowell said.
She also announced local councils would have the power to prevent new casinos opening up in their area and said studies would take place every three years to see how prevalent gambling had become as a result of the reforms.
Ms Jowell said: "Modernisation is essential if we are to keep gambling fair, crime-free and protect children and vulnerable people from new and old temptations.
"Britain has one of the lowest rates of problem gambling in the modern world. This is at risk if we do not act now and bring our laws up to date.
"We only propose giving adults additional consumer choice where we can also protect children and vulnerable players."
She added the government "will always put the interests of children and vulnerable players first, second and third".
