Gordon Brown's Casino Policy

I was off ill today, so I was actually watching PMQs when Brown dropped his semi-bombshell about reconsidering the entire super/mega casino project.

Mr Brown was told by Labour MP Andy Reed that most people thought super-casinos would make gambling addiction worse. The prime minister replied the issue would be "subject to reflection over the next few months."

"In September we will have a report that will look at gambling in our country - the incidence and prevalence of it and the social effects of it," Mr Brown said.

"I hope that during these summer months we can look at whether regeneration in the areas for the super-casinos maybe a better way of meeting their economic and social needs than the creation of super-casinos."

Whitehall sources told the BBC the idea of using a super-casino to regenerate run-down areas was "dead in the water".

As I've said before in this space, the Metropolitan Police's Gaming Unit has significant concerns about mega-casinos (anti-social behaviour, the diversion of police resources, the potential for increased organised crime and money laundering, and increased access to gambling for children and vulnerable groups).

That, plus the fact that Britain already has 300 000 problem gamblers.