UK Casino Panel Overwhelmed

Saturday January 21, 2006

As reported by the Financial Times: "The scramble to house the UK's only Las Vegas-style super casino is turning into a lottery. The body set up to decide its location has already received more than 40 applications and its head says he does not know how to choose between them.

"Professor Stephen Crow, head of the government's Casino Advisory Panel, said 'fairness and rigorous examination will be our watchwords' when assessing the applications. But when asked how he would choose, he said: 'How are we going to make up our minds? I don't know.'

"With the deadline for applications not until March 31, more authorities are expected to register interest in having a super casino. Blackpool is the favourite to win the licence, having made a super casino the cornerstone of a city-wide regeneration programme.

"However, London is also hopeful of winning the licence, with super casinos planned at the new Wembley Stadium and next to the Millennium Dome.

"?Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and London all hope to win a super casino licence, with authorities striking deals with operators including MGM Mirage, Kerzner International and Harrah's Entertainment?"