http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3671737
Jamie Lyons
"Tony Blair today defended plans for a massive shake-up of gambling laws denying it would lead to spiralling addiction and organised crime.
The Prime Minister said the vast majority of the changes were aimed at improved regulation and protecting children from gambling.
And he dismissed claims the Government had been in talks with casinos on slashing taxes as �nonsense�.
However, Home Secretary David Blunkett hinted at Cabinet divisions over the plans saying ministers should deal with disagreements in private.
Mr Blair said 90% of the Gambling Bill published last week was about �better regulation�.
It also paved the way for huge new leisure complexes with Las Vegas-style casinos.
�When this measure goes through, in a few years� time people will be asking what all the fuss was about,� he said.
�It is very important that we modernise the regulation of gambling for today�s world. Ninety per cent of the Gambling Bill is actually about better regulation, better protection for children, removing slot machines from around 6,000 premises where children might get access to it."
