Glasgow in Scotland has acquired a new image as a casino city, with five existing casinos and three rival projects to have Britain’s first super casino. Notable for its Rennie Mackintosh architecture and once infamous for its slum areas, in 2003 Glasgow applied to become a World Heritage Site. It may not yet have made that list, but the city prides itself on being a multi-cultural international centre to live, work, learn and play.

The Thistle Hotel has been given planning permission to turn part of its ground floor, originally a ballroom, into a large casino. The ballroom area can hold 1500 at a conference or 900 dancers. A casino licence will now be sought to continue with the upgrading of the hotel, which has already had £1million (US$1.75 million) spent on refurbishment. If the licence is granted then the casino is expected to open by late summer 2007.

Glasgow is home to Scotland’s largest casino – the Gala at Merchant City – and a new London Clubs’ Rendezvous development set to open next year at Springfield Quay will be larger still. Super casino projects are already being planned for Rangers Football Club (Las Vegas Sands), the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (Kerzner International) and Glasgow Harbour (MGM Mirage).

The Glasgow casinos may in no way resemble the massive gambling emporiums of Las Vegas, but that has not stopped the city getting the tag of Glasvegas. The odds are not high on Glasgow getting Britain’s first super casino but if the law is changed to allow more than one, as has been rumoured, Glasgow could yet grow into its nickname. (E-02.24.06)

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