Audio: Bob Spink on bingo

Listen to independent MP Bob Spink give his reasons for supporting a bingo protest outside parliament:

Audio: Tobias Ellwood on bingo

Listen to Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood admire the bingo protestors’ spirit:

Bingo company takes on Lib Dem MP

A bingo company has survived an attempt by Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster to have one of its adverts removed from the air. Mr Foster took umbrage at Foxy Bingo’s claims it offers new users £10 free with no deposit required. In fact, the website requires £30 in one its accounts before it pays […]

Govt abandons supercasinos amid gambling concerns

The government has formally dropped plans for a Las Vegas-style supercasino. In a bid to offset criticism and a potential legal challenge from Manchester, selected last year as the site for the first supercasino, ministers will instead promise a multimillion pound regeneration package. Culture secretary Andy Burnham confirmed the government will not authorise plans for […]

Gambling Act comes into force

New laws have today come into effect allowing the advertising of gambling on television and radio in the UK. From Saturday onwards betting shops, casinos and gambling websites are able to market themselves on TV and radio for the first time since the passing of the Gambling Act 2005. The freedom to advertise gambling, albeit […]

Govt crackdown ‘bans’ thousands of gambling ads

Online gambling sites based in jurisdictions which do not promote responsible gambling will be banned from advertising in the UK, the government announced today. Culture, media and sport secretary James Purnell said around 1,000 websites will be banned from advertising in the UK under a crackdown on irresponsible gambling. Using powers contained in the Gambling […]

Brown ‘scraps’ super casino plans

Gordon Brown has signalled the beginning of the end for the proposed super casino plans. In a clear break from his predecessor, Mr Brown said the government would look at other ways the government could deliver the urban regeneration the super casinos were designed to deliver. The Liberal Democrats predicted this signals a change of […]

Jowell looks for plan B as Lords reject casinos

The House of Lords last night voted against the government order on casinos, leaving culture secretary Tessa Jowell struggling to claim plans are “very much alive”. Peers voted 123 votes to 120 for an amendment sending the government’s entire casino package back to the planning stage. MPs approved the plans, despite initial expectations the vote […]

Jowell makes concessions in casino vote

MPs will be able to scrutinise the decision to site the UK’s first super casino in Manchester, the culture secretary Tessa Jowell has conceded. With the government facing rebellion in the Commons, Ms Jowell has accepted a House of Lords amendment calling for a parliamentary committee to consider the government’s super casino proposals. Earlier the […]