At 11 a.m. tomorrow the Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) is due to make known its choice of locations for 17 new casinos round Britain. It is already evident that lawyers are girding their loins to do battle whatever decisions have been made. Of course the outcome is known to many and was presumably decided upon at least one month ago – CAP asked for an additional month before announcing its selection to allow for printed copies to be made available.

Hot choice for the first ever super casino in Britain appears to be Blackpool, and the money is being wagered heavily on it at the bookmakers, in sufficient quantity that there is a possibility that the news has leaked out. Wherever the final location is, a good bet is that there will be legal challenges on several fronts. Unfair competition is likely to be grounds for complaint – even the 8 new small casino licences will be for properties larger than existing casinos and with up to 80 slot machines.

The monopoly status of the one regional casino licence could mean that ultimately the European courts are asked to declare illegal the granting of just one such licence. This process is likely to be a lengthy one, but before this the controversy over winning bids by local councils will probably surface. Some councils have made their applications for casino licences on the strength of alliances made with gaming companies - this despite the fact that the operating licensing process must be by tender.

Gala Coral CEO Neil Goulden has already commented that the British casino industry will present a legal challenge if unfair competition in any location is an issue. Tomorrow’s public announcement of the 17 winning authorities will be far from the end of the matter. The start of a whole new series of battles is about to commence and the lawyers will be the winners. (E-01.29.07)

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