Manchester is selected for the UK’s first regional casino

The Casino Advisory Panel today made its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport that Manchester should be the location for the UK’s first regional casino bringing thousands of jobs and training opportunities to people in Manchester. If approved, the decision could give the go-ahead for over £265 million investment in a major leisure and entertainment development, creating 2,700 jobs and a range of community facilities.

Manchester’s approved licensing policy sets out the process that will be pursued to award a regional casino licence in full compliance of the Gambling Act.

The Casino Advisory Panel today agreed with the case set out by Manchester City Council and New East Manchester that Manchester provides the best location for the hotly contested licence to run the nation’s pilot super casino and entertainment complex. Manchester City Council will invite proposals which will provide the maximum benefit for the City’s most deprived communities and effectively ensure that those communities are protected from any negative effects of the development.

It is envisaged that the casino will form only a small, but important, part of a whole range of leisure and community facilities such as a world class training centre, multi purpose arena, a swimming pool, an urban sports venue as well as restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a hotel may be included on the site.

Councillor Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council said: This is fantastic news for Manchester, and the region. We have always believed that Manchester offers a robust test bed for the successful implementation of this major leisure and tourism development. The casino will be located at the heart of a city-region with a population of 3 million. Manchester has an unrivalled track record in the delivery of major regeneration schemes so we are confident we have the expertise to deliver a world-class venue, creating thousands of new jobs for local people.

Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council said This will bring massive investment to Manchester creating much needed jobs and training opportunities in the catering, hospitality and leisure industries. The proposed development will not only attract visitors, boosting the local and regional economy, but it will provide new state-of-the-art venues for the local community to enjoy."

The casino is expected to open to the public within the next three years, and is part of a gambling strategy by the British government that will see hundreds of smaller casinos open up around the UK.