As the final minutes count down towards the Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) announcing its choice of locations for the 17 new style casinos, a recap of the process and the shortlisted regional casino applications seems appropriate, before the last glimmer of the already faded aspirations of five councils are finally extinguished. (We, like the majority, were proved wrong) Of 27 initial applications for the regional casino licence, 26 after Thurrock withdrew, 8 were shortlisted for further examination by CAP.

Ironically, if the previous plan for 8 regional casinos had remained in place, all 8 could have hosted mega casinos, although Brent and Greenwich would have been too close. Brent withdrew its application after a change in its Council and the race became considered to be a two horse race – Blackpool and Greenwich. Of course, it is still possible that one of the outsiders is named the winner but that would be a complete turn up for the book.

Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, wants the casino for its international sports village. Under the heading ‘An Exceptional Destination Waiting to be Realised’ Cardiff Council describes a regional casino as providing the key to completing the regeneration of Cardiff Bay, a project that already had site, planning permission, funding, local support and a problem gambling strategy in place. Cardiff already has the reputation of getting things done on time, its stadium is used for the events which should be staged at the still unfinished Wembley stadium.

Glasgow could be called Scotland’s gambling capital, having some of the largest casinos in Britain. Straight to the point and its introduction, Glasgow names leading international operators as interested in the regional casino market – Las Vegas Sands (Ibrox), Kerzner International (SECC), MGM Mirage (Glasgow Harbour), and developer Miller Developments (St Enoch). Glasgow Council claims that the city’s unique characteristics as a national and international tourism destination make it the ideal location to test the impact of a regional casino.

Manchester City Council also claims unique characteristics as ‘The Ideal Test Bed for a Regional Casino’. Manchester has the largest cluster of sporting facilities in the UK and hosted an immensely successful 2002 Commonwealth Games. The strongest prospects for commercial success, the greatest need for regeneration and the highest standards of social responsibility are named as reasons to grant Manchester the regional casino licence.

Newcastle is a growing centre for leisure and business tourism. Public opinion surveys show solid public support and local media are in favour of the application. Newcastle City Council states that its bid is integral with the development of a major regional convention centre facility, with benefits in inward investment, job creation and growth in tourism with a positive impact on the city and the wider region. Without the super casino licence it is unlikely that the convention centre project could proceed.

Sheffield City Council presents the facts without additional glossy photographs or fancy title. Carefully considering the potential dangers and benefits likely to result from a regional casino, the Council decided to proceed with its application after becoming convinced that careful planning and regulation would enable significant economic benefits to be realised by the people of Sheffield and the region as a whole, whilst ensuring that problem gambling numbers and other negative social impacts do not increase. Sheffield, as the fourth largest city in England, is described as having ‘impeccable’ credentials to be the regional casino ‘pilot’.

Greenwich Council’s application for the regional casino was a firm favourite until dogged by scandal. It is still considered by many to be the best choice for a pilot mega casino project, being on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of London and strategically placed within Europe’s largest and most ambitious regeneration programme. The council states that it is committed to measuring and mitigating the risks as well as maximising the benefits of a mega casino. It also claims that Greenwich is the ideal place to pilot a regional casino in the context of local, sub-regional and regional diversity.

Blackpool has already been called the ‘obvious choice’ as the location for Britain’s first regional casino. ‘Towards a World Class Resort Destination’ makes what it sees as a compelling case for selection, and the need for a dramatic new catalyst to kick-start the investment process in a shrinking, and possibly terminal, decline in the resort’s economy. Blackpool Council expects the adverse social impact of casino development to be hugely outweighed by the positive impact, because of careful research into casino development in other jurisdictions. It claims to understand the critical importance of public education, awareness and treatment programmes, and what it has to do to get the best out of casino development economically.

Very shortly the CAP decision will be known. It will probably be Blackpool that gets the nod on the strength of being a resort destination, and with a definite claim on the need for regeneration. It is probably Greenwich that should run the pilot, with the greatest potential for assessing the true impact of a mega casino. For the vociferous non-gambling lobbies, Blackpool - on the edge of northern Britain - is likely to be the lesser evil for a Las Vegas style casino. The other five Councils do not seem to be in with a chance, but there’s still a few minutes to make an outside bet. (E-01.30.07)

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