YES - John Carr, new technology adviser, NCH
Last week, the British Medical Association (BMA) published evidence that levels of gambling among young people were significantly higher than among adults. And it asked the Government to think again about some of the laws affecting young people's freedom to gamble.
The BMA was right and the emergence of super-casinos, while not directly affecting young people, will heighten and popularise gambling culture and perhaps make it seem cool, thus having an indirect effect.
NO - Dr Mark Griffiths, director, International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University
At least, not directly. Although adolescents have wide access to gambling opportunities, especially in the form of fruit machines, casinos have strict entry requirements, which means it will be very hard for those under 18 to gain access to a super-casino. However, the wider acceptability of gambling may well encourage minors to gamble, particularly in media they find psychologically comfortable such as the internet.
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