Jowell U-turn on super-casinos

THE number of super-casinos will be slashed to eight today in a humiliating climbdown by Tessa Jowell over the Gambling Bill.

Overwhelming opposition - led by the Daily Mail - has forced the Culture Secretary to rethink proposals for 40 massive casinos dotted around the country.

Jowell revealed the revised plans to Labour backbenchers last night but it will be left to her deputy, Richard Caborn, to perform a humbling U-turn before the committee scrutinising the Bill today.

The retreat has been welcomed by opponents of the plan, but rebel backbenchers warned they may want the number cut further.

For the Tories, Shadow Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: 'Eight is pretty close to what we were asking for, but it is not enough. We will be looking for additional safeguards. But this is a huge u-turn. All credit to the Daily Mail.'

The backtracking came as the Royal College of Psychiatrists joined academics, religious leaders, community groups and more than 100,000 Mail readers in voicing concerns about the damaging effect of the new gambling laws.

It warned that a string of super-casinos across Britain would lead to a 'considerable increase in individual and social disorder as a result of excessive gambling'.

Although Jowell had insisted the number of casinos would be between 20 and 40, the Gambling Bill placed no limit on the figure and more than 130 planning applications have been submitted.

Government sources said it was yet to be decided where the eight super-casinos will be based.

They will be introduced as pilots from 2007 for two or three years. A new Gambling Commission will then report on their social effects. Both Houses would have to vote to extend their number.

Labour rebel John Grogan said: 'This is significant progress. But I still think, and many people on the Labour backbenches will think, eight is still too high a number.

'Depending on the strength of feeling on the Labour benches, we may come back at Report Stage and press for a lower figure.'