Tory MP successfully lobbied minister on behalf of casino over gambling laws
The Conservative MP Philip Davies lobbied the government on behalf of a casino to introduce a measure that was then included in last week’s gambling white paper, it has emerged.
The MP for Shipley, in West Yorkshire, wrote in February to the culture secretary, Lucy Frazer, after being entertained at Les Ambassadeurs luxury casino in Mayfair, central London.
He asked Frazer, who was overseeing the shake-up of gambling laws, to make changes that would allow casinos to offer credit lines to gamblers, including “ultra-high net worth foreign visitors” playing the tables at Les Ambassadeurs.
This change was later included in the government’s white paper on gambling reform.
In his letter, Davies at one stage referred to the casino’s income as “our” revenue.
“I should also add that they are the only operator to contribute a market-leading 1% of our gross gaming yield [an industry measure roughly equivalent to revenue] to GambleAware,” he wrote.
Asked repeatedly by the Guardian if this apparent error was the result of him reproducing material provided to him by the casino, Davies did not answer.
Les Ambassadeurs said it had briefed Davies on the credit issue and had also “provided information to help inform his letter”.
Davies declined to provide an on-the-record statement but told the Guardian that he had written to Frazer because he agreed that Les Ambassadeurs should be allowed to provide credit.
His entry on the register of interests does not include any remuneration from Les Ambassadeurs and he is understood not to have received any.
Les Ambassadeurs confirmed it had hosted him for a tour on the 25 January and that he had enjoyed a meal at the club, whose website boasts of its fine dining options. MPs do not have to declare
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