The findings of Sir Alan Budd, provost at Queen's College,Oxford and hisGambling Review Body are now with the governmentwhich will announce itsdecision later this year. The report aims toboost the gaming industrycreating a single regulatory body coveringthe main forms of gambling,legalising on-line gambling, andtransferring responsibility for premiseslicences from magistratesto local authorities in the interests ofdemocraticaccountability.

Casinos and bingo operators will be the greatest beneficiariesif therecommendations are adopted by the government. Some sourcesbelieve that ifall the proposals in the report were adopted itcould double gross UK gamblingrevenues from the current £7.5billion ($11 billion) per annum. Bingo clubs would benefit frombeingallowed to offer multi-million pound rollover games, on linegambling andsome jackpot machines. Casinos would be allowed tooffer a variety ofbetting options as well as abolishing the 24 hourcooling off period betweenjoining and playing, as well aspermitting the sale of alcohol toparticipants.

King Sturge's Mark Perown said: 'The property effect would betodramatically increase space requirements for both casino andbingooperators and move the site locations closer to the highstreet.'However the government still have to act on therecommendations. National lottery operator Camelotwill be lobbyingfor some of these reforms to be modified,and despite thegovernment¹s enthusiasm for licensing reform, no changes have yet beenmade.Tax free betting will come in force on 6th October, three monthsaheadof schedule, as business is repatriated back to the UK fromoffshore locations like Gibraltar.