Chip shop ban on slot machines

Slot machines will be banned from chip shops, kebab houses and minicab offices under new controls to protect children from an overhaul of gambling laws, the Government announced today.

Tighter restrictions on highprize gaming machines, together with powers for councils to block casino openings, were among measures unveiled by Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell.

She said a limited number of super- casinos will offer unlimited fruit-machine cash prizes but pledged the drive to modernise gambling laws will be twinned with measures to protect youngsters and potential gambling addicts.

The new safeguards follow an MPs' report warning of the pitfalls of expanding Britain's gaming industry. As well as banning fruit machines from 6,000 unlicensed premises where children might congregate, the Government will scrap plans to let small casinos run bingo games, while all casinos will be forced to have " chillout" non-gambling rooms.

Ms Jowell promised threeyearly studies to see how prevalent gambling might become, and a new regulator to assess any problems before the Bill becomes law.

She said: "Modernisation is essential if we are to keep gambling fair, crime-free and protect children and vulnerable people from temptation. We only propose giving adults additional consumer choice where we can also protect children and vulnerable players."

Ministers believe the shakeup could see 117,000 new jobs in areas such as Blackpool.

Ms Jowell's announcement follows a backlash over plans to increase the number of high-payout gaming machines from 850 to 80,000.

She said small casinos will be allowed 80 unlimited jackpot machines, with a 150 limit for larger casinos, and even the new "super-casinos" - of which government sources say they expect only 10 - will have a cap of 1,250 machines each.