Casino News

Brown under fire for casino tax hike

2008-03-31 16:16:31

Gordon Brown has been attacked by a Conservative party politician over his government's decision to increase the tax levied on casinos last year.

Ryedale MP John Greenway was quoted by the Yorkshire Post as saying the prime minister's policies have hindered the industry at a time when it is particularly vulnerable.

"The industry is reporting huge losses and the government has not helped the situation by higher taxes," he commented.

"There is a leisure opportunity to be grasped. But people have got to realise it is not a licence to print money."

It is not the first time this year that Mr Brown has come under pressure over his gambling industry decisions, with the Manchester supercasino debacle in the headlines for much of February.

Mr Greenway made his statement in reference to the latest piece of bad casino news - the £1.8 million losses incurred by Scarborough's Opera House Casino last year.