I felt quite sick when I read that yet one more "nasty" is to invade our shores from America - casino-style gambling dens, to screw even more cash from people who can't really afford it and line the pockets of those who run these places.

We already suffer from obesity (through unhealthy eating from fast food chains), the compensation culture, which encourages people who have the most minor accident to find someone to pay for it, and gun law, which has caused so much mayhem on our streets.

Now we are to draw yet more people into throwing money away in the usually vain hope of winning a fortune.

What is wrong with this country? Can we not see just how much damage US-type living is doing to our once proud and independent nation?

It is bad enough that our politicians feel it necessary to kow-tow to those in America, but little by little the American-style life is taking over and I cannot think of a single benefit to us.

I had the greatest respect for Margaret Thatcher, one of the strongest and most effective leaders this country has ever had but even she had to stoop to forging a "special relationship" with President Ronald Reagan.

I cannot see any good coming from casinos in our cities; there is only so much money around, why should it be wasted in yet more gambling opportunities?

What with the Lottery, scratch cards, bingo halls, horse and dog-racing and now casinos, it is no surprise that we have to watch every penny we spend on necessities such as food and make supermarkets cut their costs by paying the very minimum to those who actually provide it, such farmers.

Heather Causnett,

Escrick Park Gardens,

Escrick, York.

Updated: 10:15 Monday, October 25, 2004