UK Super-Casino Will There Be Eleven or Only One

June 13, 2006 - Professor Peter Collins, a recognized academic and expert on the topic of gambling, called for the United Kingdom's government to permit 11 super-casino licenses rather than only the one mega-casino license that has been proposed.

The super-casino, as currently planned, will be a regional or resort casino much like Las Vega's hotel casino resorts. Glasgow is thought to be the most likely to win the selection as the location at this time.

During a seminar at the Glasgow Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Collins stated that he did not know anyone who believed that one license was the right number. He feels that 11 regional casinos would be much better even though Glasgow might not be one of the licensed locations.

There is evidence that the market would actually support more than one super-casino per region, with some regions supporting two or more. However, that would probably cause problems for the established betting industry and bingo halls already licensed. However, Collins feels that each area could certainly support one large or super-casino easily without significant disruption to existing commerce.

Possible locations for the super-casino, if only one is licensed, include Glasgow, Blackpool, Brent, Cardiff, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle, and Sheffield. Glasgow locations could include the Glasgow Harbor area, Rangers FC's Ibrox stadium, or the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Under the regulations contained in the Gambling Act passed by Parliament recently, three types of new casinos would be licensed to operate in the UK. Only one casino would be licensed to be the massive, regional resort casino complex. Eight large casinos and eight smaller casinos would also be licensed.

Chief executive Geoffrey Godbold of GamCare, the registered charity which provides information and help for social impacts from gambling expressed concerns. While he does not feel that the regional casino is bad per se, he does feel it requires careful planning including education and on-site support for people with gambling addiction.

The decision will be made soon as to the location for the new casino licensures as well as final plans as to developers, specific location information and other details.