Lords and Bishops Dismantle Super Casino Plans

More than two years of plans, debates and legislation have been shot down as the House of Lords, led by unelected Bishops, tossed the UK's plans for a Super Casino into the garbage. Plans for sixteen smaller casinos have also been put on hold until a joint committee can evaluate the decision making process behind the casino application and licensing procedures.

The vote came as a complete shock to UK Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, who had touted plans for a Super Casino in Britain since the beginning. When Ministers first presented the new Gambling Act in 2005, they were forced to compromise again and again. Original plans called for 40 Las Vegas style Super Casinos. That number was quickly reduced to eight super casinos, which eventually dwindled to just one Las Vegas style Super Casino.

It now appears that having even one gambling mega-resort is too much for the House of Lords, which is the unelected portion of Britain's Parliament. Following an emotional speech by Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the House of Lords voted 123 to 120 to push all casino plans away and to form a joint committee between the House of Commons and the House of Lords to evaluate gambling in the United Kingdom.

Making the narrow vote even more controversial is the fact that the three deciding votes were issued by Bishops who hold non-elected seats in the House of Lords. The Bishops rarely exercise their ability to vote on issues, but in this instance the religious figures used their influence to put an end to years of planning and negotiations. In fact, the Archbishop of Canterbury himself cast the final vote on the topic.

"The sleight of hand by the whole business of the gambling industry has become coupled with the regeneration theme, in ways which I find quite baffling." Archbishop Williams said during the public vote.