Dr Marijke Hoek of the Evangelical Alliance's Greater Manchester Fellowship said: "Sitting a casino in one of the most deprived areas of Manchester presents a disproportionate risk to the local population, as experience shows that casinos are supported on a year round basis by regular local gamblers among whom problem gambling rates are higher."
The Methodist Church has also expressed its concerns about the introduction of casinos.
Anthea Cox, Methodist Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, said the Lords' vote "shows the extent to which many people are unhappy with the plans for new casinos for a variety of reasons, but it will only delay and not prevent them from being built".
"Britain's churches must continue to keep pressure on Government, regulators and operators to ensure that people are aware of the real risks of gambling, and to support those whose lives suffer as a result of gambling."
Gareth Wallace, Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, said the EA has worked on the Government's gambling proposals since the Budd Report in 2001. The EA has consistently pointed out the dangers of placing casinos in deprived areas, and has given evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Gambling Bill in 2004.
"We are delighted at this victory for local communities, as we believe casinos will not bring the regeneration so desperately needed, but will actually cause more damage in already deprived areas," said Wallace.
He pointed to a New Statesman article in February 2007 which featured a recent study from the University of Illinois stating that for every $46 of economic benefit from tax revenues and local regeneration there is a staggering $289 in social cost such as alcoholism and family break-up.
"Iain Duncan Smith pointed out yesterday in the House of Commons that a major casino would be a disaster in a deprived area. The original joint committee fully grasped this danger.
"The Evangelical Alliance will once again contribute constructively to the necessary additional scrutiny that will now follow from this historic Government defeat," he said.
