The Shofar is the ancient trumpet which called the people of God to prayer, repentance, sacrifice and war.

SAY NO TO CASINOS

In September 2007, the Gambling Act 2005 comes into force, giving councils new powers for licensing casinos.

The site of Britain's first Super Casino will be Manchester, announced the Casino Advisory Panel on 30th January. 

Manchester’s Las Vegas style supercasino will tempt people with an unlimited jackpot that could reach to over a million pounds.

The success of Manchester’s bid has brought Labour under sharp criticism for its links with the controversial South African billionaire Sol Kerzner, who owns the company that is favoured to build the 50,000 square foot complex.

Dr. Crow defended the choice of Manchester on the grounds that the city was ‘a good place to test the social impact’ of gambling. But opponents criticised the move for using a particularly poor local population as human guinea pigs.

Rt. Rev. Nigel McCullough, the Bishop of Manchester, said: ‘we are seriously concerned about its social and moral effects.’

The panel, chaired by Professor Stephen Crow, also approved locations for 17 large and small casinos in the following areas:

Areas Approved for Large Casinos:

  • Great Yarmouth
  • Kingston-upon-Hull
  • Leeds
  • Middlesbrough
  • Milton Keynes
  • Newham
  • Solihull
  • Southampton

Areas Approved for Small Casinos:

  • Bath and North East Somerset
  • Dumfries and Galloway
  • East Lindsey
  • Luton
  • Scarborough
  • Swansea
  • Torbay
  • Wolverhampton

The House of Lords voted by just three votes against the recommendations in March 2007, effectively putting all 17 casinos on ice.  It is certain, however, that Secretary of State Tessa Jowell will bring her proposals back in some form for another spin of the Parliamentary wheel.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you live in one of the areas chosen for a casino, it is not too late to act.  There is still time for councils to withdraw their applications, if enough pressure is put on them.  Even if you do not live in one of these areas, you can still get involved.  Click HERE to learn what you can do.

OPPOSED BY THE BIBLE
The Bible teaches that wealth is a blessing if achieved through diligence and hard work (Prov. 13:11). Gambling, on the other hand, is rooted in the principle of gaining something for nothing, often at the expense of others. Click HERE to learn what the Bible has to say about gambling.

WHY GOVERNMENT IS ADDICTED TO GAMBLING
Many are wondering why a Government that has assumed the role of moral tutor on everything from fox hunting to religion, from raising children to putting on weight, should be so anxious to protect people’s freedom to bankrupt their families on the roulette wheel or gamble away years of earnings on fruit machines.  Why is the Government so anxious to relax gaming laws when there is very little consumer demand?  Click HERE to learn the reason behind Labour’s addiction to gambling.

HARMFUL TO COMMUNITIES
Increase in crime, debt, addiction and suicide are just some of the effects that casinos bring to communities. Click HERE to read about research on the social consequences of gambling.

GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION
In 2004, the Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said to the House of Commons, ‘There will be no new casinos if local people don’t want new casinos.’ However, very little has been done to take into account the views of local citizens. This is because the Labour Government has vested interests. Click HERE to learn about the Government’s corrupt involvement in the gambling industry.