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UK GAMING
"This industry could help, in
the current crisis – but is anyone
out there in the world of
Government and officials
actually listening?”
Former UK Shadow Gambling Minister Nick Hawkins sorts the wheat
from the chaff in his bi-monthly column…
N
ot very long ago (but just before the including gambling? Isn't now the time for MP's of all
current financial crisis hit, so the lesson parties to be demanding more help from Government
may have been lost ) the brilliant Tobey for the seaside, for arcades, for the British pub, (with
Maguire and Jeff Bridges film nearly 40 closing each week at present) and for
"SeaBiscuit" showed how the brilliant someone at least to try to persuade the present Prime
horse inspired millions of poor Americans, who saw Minister to overcome his Presbyterian scruples and
the fighting qualities of the little horse and his revert to the regeneration benefits of new casinos in
much-injured jockey Red Pollard, during the awful the original Budd free market Blair Government plan,
Depression years – and many gamblers who backed pre-the panic in the wake of the Daily Mail anti-
him had their faith repaid. Of course, no industry is casino crusade of Autumn 2004? I'd really like to see
recession-proof but people want hope, and previous industry leaders either making public calls for this, or
recessions haven't stopped gambling or leisure at least seeking private meetings with officials
spending, even if there is some retrenchment. advising the PM in number 10. The officials aren't
Having seen at very close quarters from the inside, even fighting the industry's case against the EU –
Nick Hawkins is a Barrister the pressures on the Major Government from and Brown's past tax decisions as Chancellor stifled
specialising in Gambling and economic problems in the 1990's (though those now the prospect of a thriving UK-licensed Internet
Leisure law. In his 13 years seem a pinprick compared to today, negative equity sector. It has always seemed to me that "our
in Parliament previously, he and repossessions were serious enough at the time), industry's officials” get bogged down in minutiae
held roles in Government and I realise our industry will never get a high priority in which is within their comfort zone rather than even
Opposition, including such times, from Prime Ministers or Chancellors. attempting to take on the big stuff, as our champions.
Shadow Solicitor-General However, there are Ministers, and an army of Civil A change of culture in officialdom is needed.
and Shadow Sports Minister. Servants, who are supposed to be specifically
He is now Legal Director for responsible for our industry – as there are in all However, it's not all doom, gloom and destruction-
a gaming company. Western countries. They may in fact be far more let's also take a moment to celebrate the magnificent
interested in the other, perhaps "sexier" parts of the achievement of AP McCoy and his extraordinary 3000
joint brief – especially sport. winning rides! Over such a fantastic career – absolutely
unprecedented – he has won a lot of gamblers a lot of
What, exactly, are the Civil Servants doing to help money – including, occasionally (and notably recently
us, just at present ? when I wisely followed a well-informed Brough Scott
tip on the radio one morning) your present
The old joke about the contradiction in terms "I'm correspondent. Whether a betting regular, or like me
from Whitehall and I'm here to help you” is apposite. an occasional punter, Tony McCoy has been good for
the ordinary punter, as SeaBiscuit was in the 1930's –
The UK Government is saying (I'm sure correctly) and long may he (and great horses like Denman)
that there will be vastly more UK citizens choosing to continue. Now AP says he hopes to go on to ride 4000
take their holidays in the UK rather than to go winners – I can't see that being beaten in my lifetime!
abroad, in 2009 and the next couple of years, Hats off to one of the all-time great jockeys, and let's
probably, as well. Shouldn't there be, therefore, more hope that Government can learn the inspirational
focus on helping enhance the UK leisure sector, value of a winning bet in tough times!
12 MARCH 2009
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