UK SUPERCASINO ROW COMING TO THE BOIL

8 February 2008

Labour government U-turn on land gambling policy is likely to have consequences


The British press this week has been full of reports that British prime minister Gordon Brown is about to formalise his much discussed U-turn on land gambling policy, as indications strengthened that drastic changes will soon be announced. Among the likely casualties will be the super-casino project awarded last year to Manchester by Brown's predecessor Tony Blair.

Manchester officials told the BBC this week that they will consider a legal challenge if a government decision to axe the city's planned super-casino is confirmed. The city council said it knew nothing of the about-face by ministers, who are still planning 16 regional casinos.

The BBC claims that the government's latest decision is to be announced in a statement to the Commons after the half-term recess.

The rethink, after a review ordered by Brown, was apparently outlined in a letter to Scottish and Welsh executives.

As a parliamentary bill was passed to permit the building of all the casinos, the Manchester council could go to the courts if their super-casino is shelved. Prospective employment for up to 3 000 Manchester people could be at risk.

The city was a surprise winner when it was chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino. It was named the preferred site in January 2007 at the expense of Blackpool, whose supporters said it would benefit more. But in March that year, peers rejected the plan by just three votes, after MPs had backed it by a majority of 24.

The scheme was then put in doubt when Gordon Brown asked Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to carry out a review into other ways to regenerate Manchester. That prompted concern from senior officials in the city who claimed the team behind the review had not even visited the proposed site of the super-casino in Beswick.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) insists there is still no decision on the super-casino at this time.

"There is a statutory requirement for the secretary of state to consult Scottish and Welsh ministers before making a decision how to proceed," a spokesman said. "No final decision will be taken until ministers have had the opportunity to consider the views of Scottish and Welsh ministers."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have received notification from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the intention to proceed with eight large and eight small casinos."

He said the 16 local authorities involved across the UK had been notified, but he had no information on the proposed Manchester super-casino.

"The letter merely pointed out that they decided to proceed with the eight large and eight small casinos," he said.

As part of Brown's review, the 16 local authorities that had won casino licences were asked if they wished to go ahead with the plans.

All 16 confirmed they were still keen, and as a result, large casinos with a maximum area of 5 000 sq m and up to 150 GBP 4 000 slot machines will now be granted licences in Leeds, Southampton, Great Yarmouth, Middlesbrough, Solihull, Hull, Milton Keynes and Newham, London.

Casinos up to 1 000 sq m get the go-ahead in Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, Scarborough, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Luton, Torbay and East Lindsey, Lincs.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa