US casino giants 'offered secret tax deals by Labour'

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Telegraph
By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent
(Filed: 25/10/2004)

Labour's plans to allow the creation of Las Vegas-style casinos were enveloped in fresh controversy last night over claims that American gambling giants were offered secret tax deals to set up here.

Frank Fahrenkopf, the head of the American Gaming Association, said Government officials had proposed to cut tax from 40 per cent to as little as 15.

He was reported to have received the offer while visiting Britain in January to give evidence to a Westminster committee examining the draft gambling proposals.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport denied making such an offer and the Treasury - which could double its income on gambling tax if the plans went ahead - stressed that only its officials were authorised to talk about tax rates. A Treasury spokesman said: "It is not clear who, if anybody, made such an offer."

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