Published: February 29, 2008
Burnham-On-Sea MP tackles Minister over changes to arcade laws

Burnham-On-Sea's MP has this week tackled a senior government minister over the "serious" impact that competition from new casinos and changes to laws is having on seaside amusement arcades.

During Tuesday's parliamentary debate, Mr Heathcoat-Amory clashed with Andy Burnham - the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

"Will the Secretary of State give a convincing reply about the plight of the seaside holiday resorts with amusement arcades which have been badly hit by the consequences of the Gambling Act?" asked Mr Heathcoat-Amory.

"Such resorts are in great competition with overseas holidays. The matter is urgent and serious, and it deserves a better response than his reply that he was keeping it under review. Will he agree that mistakes have been made and that they must be corrected?"

Mr Burnham said the government did not accept that. "The Under-Secretary of State is in regular discussion with representatives of the arcade industry, and we will continue to keep the matter under close review," he said.

It comes after approval was given for several new casinos across the UK earlier this week.

A set of other new regulations introduced last year has hit arcade takings by limiting each business to four £500 jackpot machines - the maximum payout allowed.

New doors and barriers have had to be installed to meet requirements for segregation between adult and family gaming areas, fruit machines have had to be reprogrammed, and new licences have had to be purchased.

Arcade operators are fuming that they are also being required to set up surveillance systems to make sure customers are not throwing all their money away.

Burnham Pier's owner, Louise Parkin, said this week that complying with the new rules last year had cost the pier about £100,000 and that she has already had to cut back on staff as a result.

"Visiting amusement arcades is a national pastime. The Government is not taking this into account. It wants to alter what Britain is," she told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"We have the impression that the government prefers big casino companies because it costs them more in administration to get tax out of small businesses."