Work and Money

Following a decision by the Casino Advisory Panel to grant Newham a licence for London’s only "large" casino, critics of the proposal have stepped up their campaign to stop it from being built.

"We need a casino like a hole in the head. It would be better to site a casino in wealthy Chelsea than in Newham," says Councillor Alan Craig from the Christian People’s Alliance, who is leading the campaign against the casino. He adds that he has support from a number of religious groups from across the borough.

"Newham is a deprived area. Where there is poverty like this we do not need to provide people with what seems to be a ticket out of poverty, which is gambling."

Construction of the new casino is subject to a public consultation. However, Councillor Craig says that now a licence has already been granted, it will be more difficult to prevent its construction, and that the public should have been asked to offer its views before the bid was made. "There has been no consultation in Newham whatsoever until now," he says.

Under the rules of the licence, a "large" casino can be up to 1,000 square-feet, with a maximum jackpot of £4,000.

You can watch the full video interview with Councillor Alan Craig by clicking on the link at the top right of this page.

angela.saini@bbc.co.uk