Politicians that were previously responsible for gambling in the UK gave evidence to the UK parliamentary select committee yesterday as part of its study into the British gambling industry. The UK government is looking at legislation which will see secondary licenses for remote gambling, reviewing gambling taxation, and the regulation of remote gambling.

In front of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, the former Secretary of State, Tessa Jowell, former Sport and Tourism Minister, Richard Caborn gave their opinions.

Plans also included views from the executive director of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, Andre Wilsenach, Gambling Commissioner from Gibraltar, Phillip Brear, Chairman of Jersey Gambling Commission, Graham White.

Richard Caborn suggested that the previous government, the Labour Party, withdraw from plans in 2005 for multiple land super-casinos following a negative publicity campaign by The Daily Mail in the run-up to the 2005 general election.

Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary at the time, reduced the number of complexes from eight to one, before the plan for super-casinos was dropped altogether.

Jowell suggested that the concession was a small price to pay for securing the 2005 Gambling Act. She suggested the decision was based on "parliamentary politics", not "external forces".

Jowell also suggested there were issues relating to gambling machines.

"I think it is possible to lose, if you just play constantly for an hour, you can lose £ 18,000. I would be concerned about that," she added. Jowell suggested that the the machines had been put "on probation" by the former government as they were worried about the effects of problem gambling.