New UK Gambling Commission Under Fire
Published: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
CHIEF OF NEW UK GAMBLING COMMISSION UNDER FIRE
Political squabble breaks out after Times interview
The British media were reporting widely this week on a spat between Peter Dean, the head of the new UK Gambling Commission and Labour government ministers following an interview in The Times earlier in the week.
Media reports described government ministers as "livid" following remarks attributed to Dean that said that Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, had “exaggerated” the case for supercasinos to push the Bill through Parliament. Dean also upset the government by suggesting that the Gambling Commission, created in October, will be "...a laissez faire regulator" which believes regional casinos with million-pound slot machines are “not such a big deal”.
Opposition Conservative politicians joined the fray by claiming that Dean did not appear to be as tough as the government had promised, calling his remarks “worrying”.
Possibly in an attempt to control the situation, Richard Caborn, the Culture Minister called Dean on his cellphone whilst he was on holiday and is reported to have rebuked the head of the gambling watchdog. But hours after the article appeared, Dean apparently defied government advice and repeated his view that the commission should not regulate onerously.
During his call to Dean, Caborn is said to have emphasised that the Gambling Commission must be proactive and unhesitating in using its powers. A government source 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.”
The source continued: “The Gambling Commission has both the platform and the power to keep the industry safe, crime free and on its toes. Richard Caborn phoned Peter Dean today to make it absolutely clear that we expect them to use these powers.”
The Government is now planning to change the make-up of the commission by introducing at least one member with a specific brief for social responsibility. Ministers were particularly disappointed because they put a lot of effort into liaising with the commission. Mr Caborn set up quarterly meetings with Mr Dean in order to provide help and guidance in sensitive areas.
To avoid a repetition of the incident, it is believed that a government media liaison expert will be seconded to advise Dean on future media matters.
Government sources have flagged another problem with the new commission, which was created out of the old Gaming Board.
Because Birmingham has been chosen as the seat of the new commission, ex-Gaming Board staff who are experts in casino regulation have refused to move with the commission, creating fears that a dearth of expertise could weaken it.
A ministry spokesman confirmed that the commission will have at least one more member responsible for social responsibility as soon as possible. He said: “The Government and the Commission are of one mind. They must be a tough, proactive new regulator that will not hesitate to use the powers that Parliament has given.”
