Calling itself Dublin’s finest casino, Silks Private Members Club apparently is to call in the liquidators. Only minutes away from Dublin City Centre in Earlsfort Terrace, the casino may have the three essentials of location, location, location but that has not saved it in the present economic climate. The Irish Government may finally, after a decade of lobbying, be preparing to publish proposals to licence and regulate casinos but the Irish Private Members Clubs are facing hard times and the glory days could be long gone.

The Irish Times reports that the Silks Director and shareholder Leonard Kinsella is to hold a creditors’ meeting in August to appoint a company liquidator. According to Kinsella, trade at the casino has fallen so far as to make the business unsustainable. Silks was opened in November 2003 and offered its venue for corporate events and party hire, staging some high profile events attended by celebrities and sports stars. Around 12 jobs will be lost following the casino’s closure.

Although at present casinos are illegal in Ireland there are some 50 Private Members Clubs offering casino games. These clubs have recently been included in the Irish anti-money laundering legislation. In March 2009 a comprehensive Irish gambling code was expected to be formulated despite the planned cross-party gambling committee failing to materialize after disagreement about the terms. In March this year Irish bookmaker Paddy Power reported record online profits, now accounting for 75% of group profits. It seems not all forms of gambling in Ireland are suffering from the recession. (E-07.26.10)

© Copyright 2010 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage