Senate backs extra powers for local councils over gaming machines

The Czech upper house, the Senate, has voted for a change in the law aimed at allowing local councils greater power to prevent gaming machines being sited on their territory. The councils currently have powers to block old hand operated machines but not the new-style video terminals. The amendment, already passed in the lower house, has been subject to heavy lobbying and threats from gaming companies that they could site their operations outside the Czech Republic or start legal proceedings against the country for loss of investment.