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Nick Hawkins column
Former UK Shadow Gambling Minister Nick Hawkins sorts the wheat from the chaff in his bi-monthly column...
Not very long ago (but just before the current financial crisis hit, so the lesson may have been lost ) the brilliant Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges film "SeaBiscuit" showed how the brilliant horse inspired millions of poor Americans, who saw the fighting qualities of the little horse and his much-injured jockey Red Pollard, during the awful Depression years – and many gamblers who backed him had their faith repaid. Of course, no industry is recession-proof but people want hope, and previous recessions haven't stopped gambling or leisure spending, even if there is some retrenchment. Having seen at very close quarters from the inside, the pressures on the Major Government from economic problems in the 1990's (though those now seem a pinprick compared to today, negative equity and repossessions were serious enough at the time), I realise our industry will never get a high priority in such times, from Prime Ministers or Chancellors. However, there are Ministers, and an army of Civil Servants, who are supposed to be specifically responsible for our industry – as there are in all Western countries. They may in fact be far more interested in the other, perhaps "sexier" parts of the joint brief – especially sport.
What, exactly, are the Civil Servants doing to help us, just at present ?
The old joke about the contradiction in terms "I'm from Whitehall and I'm here to help you” is apposite.
The UK Government is saying (I'm sure correctly) that there will be vastly more UK citizens choosing to take their holidays in the UK rather than to go abroad, in 2009 and the next couple of years, probably, as well. Shouldn't there be, therefore, more focus on helping enhance the UK leisure sector, including gambling? Isn't now the time for MP's of all parties to be demanding more help from Government for the seaside, for arcades, for the British pub, (with nearly 40 closing each week at present) and for someone at least to try to persuade the present Prime Minister to overcome his Presbyterian scruples and revert to the regeneration benefits of new casinos in the original Budd free market Blair Government plan, pre-the panic in the wake of the Daily Mail anti-casino crusade of Autumn 2004? I'd really like to see industry leaders either making public calls for this, or at least seeking private meetings with officials advising the PM in number 10. The officials aren't even fighting the industry's case against the EU – and Brown's past tax decisions as Chancellor stifled the prospect of a thriving UK-licensed Internet sector. It has always seemed to me that "our industry's officials” get bogged down in minutiae which is within their comfort zone rather than even attempting to take on the big stuff, as our champions. A change of culture in officialdom is needed.
However, it's not all doom, gloom and destruction-let's also take a moment to celebrate the magnificent achievement of AP McCoy and his extraordinary 3000 winning rides! Over such a fantastic career – absolutely unprecedented – he has won a lot of gamblers a lot of money – including, occasionally (and notably recently when I wisely followed a well-informed Brough Scott tip on the radio one morning) your present correspondent. Whether a betting regular, or like me an occasional punter, Tony McCoy has been good for the ordinary punter, as SeaBiscuit was in the 1930's – and long may he (and great horses like Denman) continue. Now AP says he hopes to go on to ride 4000 winners – I can't see that being beaten in my lifetime! Hats off to one of the all-time great jockeys, and let's hope that Government can learn the inspirational value of a winning bet in tough times!
