The UK government has announced plans to allow large regional casinos to open offering unlimited jackpots.

The platforms, like gambling machines, are experts at disguising losses as wins. These work thanks to an effect similar to that exploited by practitioners of “cold reading” and psychic tricks: we. Gaming Reviews, News, Tips and More. Gaming Reviews, News, Tips and More. The Xbox Series X does not feel like the kind of machine we usually get at the start of a new.

The proposals outlined in the Gambling Bill will tighten rules for betting on the internet and remove slot machines from shops and cafes.

ASK THE GAMING BOARD

Tom Kavanagh, secretary of the Gaming Board of Great Britain, answered your questions on the Bill.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell insists the shake-up will be done in a 'socially responsible manner'. Bbc News Gambling Machines

Critics argue that gambling addiction will rise and we risk being overrun by Las Vegas-style casinos.

Are these proposals a good idea? Will they modernise gambling? Can they provide the industry's regulatory body with greater flexibility but also allow greater enforcement?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE

Should opportunities for organised gambling be reduced, rather than extended?

This proposal is as corrupt and criminally irresponsible as the epidemic of organised and drug crime which will follow hot on its heels. If anyone needed further proof after the illegal invasion of Iraq that the UK is being sold off to US corporate greed by our morally bankrupt politicians, it's this Gambling Bill.
Colleen Morrison, Harlow, England

Why do we need organised gambling? It produces very little of value to our society, its main function is to move money from the gullible and the addicted to the proprietors. It might create a few jobs, but shouldn't we be trying to create better jobs than this?
Ben, Oxford, UK

Last night on Newsnight I saw the government's case being defended by a bloke from the Adam Smith Institute....have I missed something here? Wasn't it the Conservatives that used to do things that made the Adam Smith Institute happy? Of course the government denies that it has been affected by the gambling lobby. I have given up with Labour.
William, London UK

Tessa Jowell is having a laugh. How can she suggest that any form of gambling on this scale is 'socially responsible'. These casino companies are no benefit to the UK economy, they won't reduce our balance of payments and they will almost certainly increase gambling addiction. It's almost beggars' belief that any UK Govt would even consider this.
Dick, Scotland

So we have an industry worth £63 billion that will be required to spend a whole £3 million p.a. on addiction into its product. Bet that will go a long way! (Does this remind anyone else of the tobacco industry?)
Victoria Edwards, Birmingham, England

Maybe the law needs updating a bit. For example, taking of the internet sounds like a good idea (though what they can really achieve in trying to regulate that isn't clear). But how many people want enormous great big business casinos? Almost none, except the big businesses. Out of touch? Distant and corporatist? New Labour? Surely not!
Phil Gale, Oxford,UK

This is totally irresponsible and just reinforces the view prevalent today that people can live for today

Hypocrites. In the same week that a devastating report into pensions is published, a report that highlights the failure of many people to adequately provide for their retirement, with the real prospect that many employees will need to work beyond the age of 65 in order to earn a decent pension, the Goverment proposes opening the doors to casinos across the country. This is totally irresponsible and just reinforces the view prevalent today that people can live for today, have what they want and have it now , not worry about debt and as for tomorrow well I'm bound to hit the jackpot and all my financial worries will be over!
Mike, Coventry YK

I don't understand the logic of this at all - take away harmless fruit machines with a jackpot of £10 (ie no one will bankrupt themselves for this kind of money) and replace it with fewer machines where you can really get addicted - poker/fruit machines with no limit ! It's a really bad idea... you only have to look to Australia for very sad cases of poker machine addiction, Casinos that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and specifically designed to keep you gambling for hours at a time. The term 'socially responsible' is in complete contradiction to allowing people to develop addictions to machines that you can not win against and can not tell you when to stop and go home.
Michael McCluney, London, UK

Why are our well paid MPs wasting time and money on changing the gambling laws. This is not a change the average civilised UK person is demanding. I think the American business demands are more at fault. The lowlife need protecting as they become 'addicted' I understand. Are they not addicted to enough things already already?
Michael, Plymouth, UK

With the country in the state it's in, shouldn't politicians be concentrating on something other than gambling?

With the country in the state it's in, shouldn't politicians be concentrating on something other than gambling? As if we don't get ripped off enough! I have no interest in gambling at all, I don't even do the lottery, why are my elected representatives having to waste their energy on this instead of more useful and pressing matters?
Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, UK

Smart people only bet what they can afford to lose (usually they bet nothing). The rest think they can get ahead (in defiance of logic). The lottery is a tax on small change and stupidity, it is consistent for HMG to relax some of the rules on gambling. I don't think it will do society any good though.
Phil, UK

I recently visited a casino in the south of Indiana. Casino's are a tax on the poor, most of the people I saw gambling looked like they couldn't afford to be there.
Oliver Richardson, UK in USA

Just another way most people can lose money and possibly get into financial difficulties, whilst a few people make loads of money and the Government of course can trawl more tax.
Ann, England

Gambling is a tax on stupidity, as anyone with common sense can see that the odds are always in the house's favour.
Shanti, London, England

It just shows money is king. I cannot really see any benefit in this. Why are our MPs not revolting on this domestic issue?
Mike, Ilford

The Government claim to be worried about spiralling levels of debt, then they bring this in, which will further add to the misery of thousands of families, yet will bring in millions in gambling duty. There is just one word for this: hypocrisy.
Clifford, Dartford

I'm not alone with my fears that gambling houses will attract mafia-style villainy to all corners of our once-peaceful land. Serious local authority regulation and extra policing must be in place before such establishments are allowed to open.
Patrick V. Staton, Guildford, UK

I have visited the USA on many occasions and I do take in a visit to one of the many casinos there. The chances of people walking out with a fortune are very small.

An old joke. How does one walk out of a casino with a small fortune? First, walk in with a large fortune'. I would not want to see casinos on the scale they have in the US here in the UK.
Anthony, Cardiff, Wales

The most cynical and immediate exploitation by a government of its people