There is speculation that before long the Casino Advisory Panel will name a shortlist of contenders for the UK’s first regional casino pilot. All the applications have obvious merits for regeneration, one of the Government’s criteria for selection, and local authorities from around Britain have provided extensive studies supporting their cases. Three major contenders in England are Greenwich in the South East, Coventry in the Midlands and Blackpool in the North West.

Unlike many local authority applications to the Casino Advisory Panel for a casino licence, Greenwich Council wants a super casino or nothing. It does not want to be considered for a large or small casino should its bid for super status fail. Citing its strategic placement as Europe’s largest and most ambitious regeneration programme, Greenwich Council points out that by 2016 an additional 120,000 homes will be built in its area.

The Greenwich Peninsula development is one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK and the former Millennium Dome (now renamed The O2 ) is at its heart. The proposed regional casino would be part of its integrated leisure and entertainment complex, with 23,000-seat arena, exhibition space and world-class hotel. The geographical location, according to the Council, displays the characteristics of diversity in terms of multi-ethnic population and tourism.

Greenwich has a population of 226,000, accounting for 3% of the population for Greater London. Pockets of prosperity but high levels of deprivation and above average levels of unemployment are some of the reasons that its Council says make Greenwich the ideal place to pilot a regional casino in the context of local, sub-regional and regional diversity. The Council have thoroughly studied the potential impacts of the scheme and Kerzner, the proposed casino operator, has a proactive approach to the issue of problem gambling.

Another casino operator, Isle of Capri, is similarly credited with a truly comprehensive approach to tackling problem gambling beyond its legal and regulatory responsibilities. Coventry Council, in the English Midlands, says that Coventry is ‘The Natural Choice’ for the UK’s first regional casino pilot. The Ricoh Arena scheme has already cleared every planning, regulatory and licensing hurdle with the exception of a regional casino licence. A super casino pilot there could be operational within six months, years ahead of any other, and provide the Government with the earliest possible impact assessment study.

Coventry, with a population of 304,000, is amongst the 20% most deprived Local Authorities in the country and ranked within the 7½% most deprived in terms of employment and income. Coventry City Council is committed to actively monitor and mitigate any risk of problem gambling should it be granted the regional casino licence, but comments that the overwhelming majority of international academic research suggests that there is no proven link between increased access to gambling facilities, problem gambling and crime.

Amongst the 27 applications to the Casino Advisory Board is Blackpool, the early favourite for scooping the jackpot. Claiming a compelling case for selection as the national location for piloting regional casino development, the submission is entitled ‘Towards a World Class Resort Destination’. Blackpool Council states that its area is overwhelmingly dependent on a seasonal resort economy that is moving inexorably towards terminal decline, and that it lacks any other viable regeneration alternative.

Blackpool has 250,000 inhabitants with socio-economic conditions ranging from relative affluence to intense multiple deprivation and disadvantage. The Council declares that this will exhibit the effects of social and economic impact as clearly as any and, because of geographic containment, be more easily and reliably measured. The high proportion of visiting destination gamblers could be expected to limit potential dangers. Following the Gambling Commission Guidance to Licensing Authorities, Blackpool has deliberately avoided linkage to a casino operator and would find a preferred operator through competitive process after being awarded the regional casino licence.

The Casino Advisory Panel must judge all the casino licence applications in the light of the best possible test of social impact, whether seaside resort, edge of town or inner city. It must include areas in need of regeneration and ensure that the areas selected are willing to license a new casino. In the case of the one regional casino licence, seen by most as the jackpot prize, the winning bid must provide a full range of leisure activities and conference facilities offering clear potential for regeneration. The Panel should provide its recommendations to the Secretary of State by the end of the year. (E-05.17.06)

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