WALTHAM FOREST: Controversial casino to get go ahead

4:37pm Monday 25th February 2008

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a massive casino on Waltham Forest's doorstep will be given the go-ahead by the Government this week.

A casino 1,500 square meters in size with a minimum of 150 gaming machines with jackpots limited to £4,000 is set to be built in Newham.

The casino, which will be built at either Stratford City, West Ham United FC, or Docklands ExCel Centre, is one of eight large casinos which have been given Government approval.

Last year the move prompted concern from Waltham Forest's three MPs and religious leaders who fear it will increase gambling addiction and crime in the borough and redistribute wealth between rich and poor.

The al-Tawhid mosque, in Leyton High Road, is close to the border with Newham and would be within a short walking distance of the casino if it were built in Stratford.

The mosque's senior Imam Dr Usama Hasan said: "Gambling is prohibited in the Koran. I don't think our congregation will like the casino being built at all.

"Gambling causes a lot of problems, people who run up debt may turn to crime, it is all related."

Curate Rosemary Ashley, of the Cornerstone Church, Canterbury Road, Leyton, said: "I share the concerns about the casino because I don't like anything that promotes luck and passivity rather than encouraging people to be creative and do something for the benefit of the community.

"The casino will also redistribute wealth from the poor to the rich."

Leyton MP Harry Cohen said: "I believe it would encourage major gambling among vulnerable and naive individuals who could be plunged into serious debt. Such a casino would be regressive in economic and income distribution."