Council decides not to gamble on casinos

Council decides not to gamble on casinos

Las Vegas will not be coming to Wandsworth after licensing bosses agreed to ban casinos.

The Gambling Act 2005 has produced the possibility of allowing casinos to open, creating more jobs, trade, tourism and presumably more gambling.

But Wandsworth Council's licensing committee has banned casinos a decision rubber-stamped by the executive on Monday because it was against the borough's residential make-up.

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It will now be left to places such as Wembley and Westminster to decide whether they want casinos.

There are also plans for one national super-casino, possibly to be built inside the Dome, which will dwarf all other outlets making the town it inhabits a mini-Las Vegas.

Licensing chairman, Councillor Stewart Finn said: "We do not think, as a predominantly residential borough, there would a great deal of need for that sort of business.

"Members do not have strong ethical objections but we have to weigh up what people want."

The act covers all types of gambling from betting shops to fruit machines in pubs and bingo halls.

There are no big changes to these laws and the council will continue to review licences and behavioural standards.

(wandsworthguardian.co.uk)