UK Culture Minister Interrupts Gambling Commission Head’s Vacation for Sharp Scolding

The new UK Gambling Commission head has received a prickly dressing-down by the Culture Minister after his comments in an interview in The Times.

The Gambling Commission was established as a regulator for the casino industry under the newly approved Gambling Bill. The government has granted the Gambling Commission broad regulatory powers, although recent comments have shed doubt on whether these powers will be used.

Richard Caborn, the Culture Minister, called Peter Dean, the new head of the Gambling Commission, to express his disappointment. He placed the call to Dean’s cell phone while Dean was on a ski trip in order to emphasize the depth and urgency of his displeasure.

Dean had embarrassed the government in The Times interview, in which he told a reporter that Teresa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, had “exaggerated” in her promises of strict regulation by the Gambling Commission. Dean, who has close ties to gambling operators, also called the new regional casinos, which have slot machines with jackpots worth millions of pounds “not a big deal,” among other controversial remarks.

Caborn told Dean that he had completely misunderstood the mandate of the Commission he is to head, and that the government had approved the Gambling Bill precisely because of assertions that the regulatory body would oversee the industry very strictly. A spokesman for Caborn said, ““Ministers were frustrated by this article. For the last three or four years Tessa Jowell could not have been clearer. The gambling industry is not an industry like any other. It must be subject to strict controls enforced by a tough proactive regulator.”

Caborn was especially disappointed because The Times interview took place after a meeting between himself and Dean; the men are to meet quarterly to discuss the Commission’s progress. From this point on, there will be a government media handling expert present at meetings in an attempt to avoid future embarrassments.

Other government ministers were also up in arms about Dean’s remarks. Hugo Swire, who is the Shadow Culture Minister, said that his conservative- leaning Tory party had been duped: they had only backed liberalization of the gambling laws under the assumption that the Gambling Commission would strictly regulate the industry. “In the House of Commons, we were given categorical assurances by the Secretary of State that tackling problem gambling was an essential part of any gambling reforms. The cautious support for Labour’s plans came only after unequivocal assurances from Tessa Jowell that the regulator would act to protect the vulnerable. It is worrying that the role and powers of the regulator seem to have been exaggerated by the Secretary of State,” said Swire.

In order to counteract the expected effect of Dean’s laissez faire approach to gambling, the ministers added an additional position to the Commission: there will now be at least one member responsible for combating problem gambling.

Western Union Closes Sites in Antigua & Barbuda
January 12, 2006
Western Union offices across Antigua & Barbuda have been closed for the past week, with many arguing that this due to pressure by the United States government.

Advice from Accounting Experts: Keep Detailed Accounts of Gambling Wins and Losses
January 11, 2006
Although the April deadline for tax filing may feel months away, it will creep up before you can say, “deductions!” Experts advise making tax time a bit easier by keeping detailed records of all financial transactions, including all gambling activity.

Popular Casino Author Decries Proposed FOX and CMT Gambling Shows
January 11, 2006
A popular casino gambling author has come out against two proposed casino- based television shows. Steven Bourie, who wrote the American Casino Guide and other celebrated casino gambling books and guides, has condemned CMT’s “Man vs. Vegas” and the Fox Reality Network’s “Double or Nothing,” using angry words.

College Athletes’ Gambling Out- of- Control, Say NCAA Officials
January 8, 2006
The National College Athletes Association (NCAA) decided to take action against rampant gambling among college athletes.

Illinois Gaming Board Considers Proposal to Card Casino Patrons
January 5, 2006
The Illinois Gaming Board is currently considering a proposition under which every person who walks into any of Illinois’ nine casinos would have to show an identification card.

Celebrated Atlantic City Casino Operator to Head New Las Vegas Project
January 5, 2006
California is host to 55 Indian casinos, which are immensely popular, drawing both in- state and out- of- state visitors. They are packed with players on the weekends, and even on weekdays a spot in the casino parking lot is not to be taken for granted.

New UK Gambling Commission Causes Public Outcry
January 4, 2006
When Tessa Jowell, the UK Culture Secretary, pushed the new Gambling Bill through the British Parliament, she sought to allay a public outcry by assuring the British people that the bill would not create more problem gambling.

UK Culture Minister Interrupts Gambling Commission Head’s Vacation for Sharp Scolding
January 4, 2006
The new UK Gambling Commission head has received a prickly dressing-down by the Culture Minister after his comments in an interview in The Times.

Indian Casino Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Indicted for Defrauding Tribes
January 4, 2006
Casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax invasion in federal court yesterday. The entire U.S. political world is awaiting the progression of the trial with baited breath, since Abramoff told prosecutors that he did not work alone;

Gambling Club for Children Raises Eyebrows in Prague
January 3, 2006
An “American- style” gambling club has opened in the Czech Republic’s capital city. This news would hardly cause headlines, except for one small detail: the casino’s target player is about 7 years of age.

Are California’s Indian Casinos Cheating Players?
January 2, 2006
California is host to 55 Indian casinos, which are immensely popular, drawing both in- state and out- of- state visitors. They are packed with players on the weekends, and even on weekdays a spot in the casino parking lot is not to be taken for granted.

Minnesota Man’s Pride and Joy: Extensive Las Vegas Memorabilia Collection
January 2, 2006
It would be fair to say that Randy Temple loves Las Vegas. The lights, the glamour, the thrill, and, especially, the mementos.