On the day Gordon Brown was confirmed as next Prime Minister he was greeted with a high court challenge over the issue of introducing more casinos into the UK by the British Casino Association.

The BCA initiated their legal challenge against the Government today as they bid to scupper proposals to introduce new casinos of varying sizes across the UK.

The BCA are unhappy that any new casinos, under the new Gambling Act to be introduced in September, will be given an unfair and unreasonable competitive advantage.

For instance the new casinos would be allowed slot machines with bigger jackpots and the super-casino (whether it be based in Manchester or Blackpool or in both) would be allowed 1,250 jackpot machines with unlimited stakes and prizes.

The challenge is being supported by five of its member operators, which translates into 116 of the 138 casinos already in existence across Britain.

Members of the BCA operate over 90 per cent of the casinos in the UK and possess plenty of political clout.

High Court judge Mr. Justice Collins approved the BCA’s contention in April and allowed a three-period for the hearing.
 
"The Association strongly believes that the Secretary of State has erred in considering and determining the arrangements for existing casinos in such a way that gives rise to very serious concerns about their impact and lawfulness," said Penny Cobham, BCA chairwoman, in a recent statement.

"We have consistently argued that existing casinos would be unfairly treated under the terms of the Act through its inherent inequality and incoherence.”
 
If successful, it would be yet another hammer blow for the government after the House of Lords threw out the new casino proposals earlier this year.
However, the government insists the plans are “still very much alive”.

There appears to be confusion though on the Government front benches over the issue with ministers disagreeing about if and how they should push the new act forward.