Gaming Bill won't end fun of the fair

THE Government has denied claims that the controversial new Gambling Bill will signal the end of seaside arcades and end-of-pier family entertainment centres.

Fears that cheap and popular games such as 'penny pusher' and 'grab a toy' machines were under threat came after the Culture Minister, Tessa Jowell, said that 'gaming machines and children should not mix'.

Under the new Bill, to be debated in Parliament next month, games such as pushers and cranes will for the first time be included in the regulatory framework covering gambling and 'amusements with prizes' machines.

The machines will be given the lowest category rating - D - which means that the maximum stake is 10p and the maximum prize is limited to £5.

BACTA, the body that represents amusement arcade owners, is concerned that the Government will ban children from playing on the machines.

It said: 'The very possibility of an age limit on low-stake, low-prize machines would deliver a hammer blow to the coastal amusement business.'

The Bill says: 'The Secretary of State may by order create an offence of inviting, causing or permitting a child or young person below a specified age to use a category D gaming machine.'

But a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: 'It is not true at all that we are trying to ban seaside arcades. In fact, children will be able to continue to use category D machines in such places. We do not see any evidence at this time to warrant banning children from these machines.'

The proposals for giant Las Vegas-style casinos have caused uproar. But the Government denied reports that slot machines will be paying out up to £2.5m in jackpot prizes.

'In theory it's possible, but in practice it is unlikely,' said a spokesman.