Supercasino out, 16 new casinos in
The UK is going casino crazy. Authorization has been given by the government for 16 new casinos to be built across the UK, with 8 large venues and 8 smaller venues, in locations in Scotland, Wales and England.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for British gambling this year. First, Manchester was chosen as the location for the brand new Supercasino, a huge plan backed by Blair and intended to regenerate a rundown area of the city, bringing jobs, tourists and income to Britain’s third city. Manchester defeated Blackpool and London to win the Las Vegas style venue and anticipation was high in the city.
However, as soon as Gordon Brown replaced Blair in Downing Street, he put the supercasino plans on the backburner. Manchester was kept waiting with no official decision made. In January it was leaked that the government had scrapped the supercasino altogether. It seemed that Brown was firmly against gambling.
Until that is he approved the plan for sixteen new casinos across the country. Locations include Leeds, Wolverhampton, Dumfries, Milton Keynes, Southampton and Middlesborough. The new casinos will be up to 54000 square feet and may have up to 150 slot machines at each venue.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes had been in the running to operate the 16 casinos, but have since withdrawn their application. UK Rank group has also put in a bid and looks most likely to run the nationwide operation. Vegas operators Harrah’s and the Sands Corporation showed interest in the supercasino, but have backed out now the venues will be much smaller.
A Sands spokesman condemned the change of heart saying that the UK will be left with ‘lousy little casinos’ which instead of attracting international tourists, will only drain the local communities.
One politician dubbed Labour ‘the slot machine party’, in a lengthy criticism of their promotion of casino gambling.
Despite all this criticism, many Brits seem to be in favour and with pub poker taking off across the UK, gambling may be on the up. British casinos generally combine table and card games with entertainment, restaurants and bars to create a complete night out, not restricted to gambling – although the games are clearly the major source of income.
It remains to be seen whether Britain’s new abundance of casinos will transform gambling in the UK.
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