As expected, the losing side in the contest for Birmingham’s super casino application is feeling bitter. Last night Birmingham City Council cabinet decided to back the project at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) as being the ‘most advantageous for the city as a landowner.’ The NEC lies outside Birmingham and it will be the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council that will make the bid to become the licensing authority for Britain’s first mega casino.

The MD of Birmingham City Football Club (The Blues), Karren Brady commented, “In their blind pursuit to save the NEC, the council might have cost Birmingham the chance of having the super-casino and all the regeneration that would have brought.” The club had hoped to relocate to a new stadium under the Las Vegas Sands project, but this is unlikely to happen without the casino. The NEC project goes forward with MGM Mirage, and Birmingham Council hopes that present losses for the exhibition centre will turn to profit if Birmingham gets a licence for a regional casino.

The NEC group with MGM Mirage hope to develop a unique multimillion pound regional entertainment casino complex. A projected 3,000 new operational and construction jobs would be created and the anticipated future revenue would guarantee the City of Birmingham annual funds for regeneration schemes. It is estimated that the project will be worth over £600 million (US$ million) for the region in the first ten years. The NEC selected MGM Mirage after a competitive tender, choosing the US gaming and entertainment company for its credentials as ‘a world class employer and community neighbour.’ (E-03.21.06)

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