The Gambling Commission, set up under the Gambling Act 2005, has a total of 62 outstanding casino licence applications, 41 of which were submitted last week before last Friday’s midnight deadline for applications under the 1968 law. Last year’s gambling act allows for just 17 new licences – 8 small casinos, 8 large and 1 super casino. Apart from the 62 pending applications there are an additional 31 granted a licence but awaiting local magistrate court approval and 26 with full permission but not yet operating.

Liverpool is believed to be the location of five casino applications. Stanley Leisure, which has just opened Manchester’s refurbished Strand Casino as the Manchester Mint, is believed to have made one of the applications. The company was recently granted permission for its third casino in Liverpool, as well as locations in Sheffield and Nottingham. It has made five new provincial casino licence applications as well as asking to relocate casinos in London, Edinburgh and Southampton.

The change to UK gambling regulations has brought a steady stream of new clients into existing casinos. Membership rules requiring a 24-hour delay in entering was abolished at the beginning of October last year. Over the first six months since the relaxation to this rule, Stanley reported a 17.2% rise in visits. Should all the additional casino licences be granted, these and the 17 new venues to be licensed under the 2005 law will ensure plenty of choice for new casino gamblers. (E-05.03.06)

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