Blackpool’s super casino dream still alive
It seems a slim chance still remains that the sea side town of Blackpool may yet get its super casino.
Following a vote in February by the House of Commons it was thought that Blackpool's super casino dreams had been ended, as 16 other casinos were given the green light to open.
Lord McNally questioned whether there was any flexibility in the legislation due to the fact that not all of the 16 have taken up the licenses.
He argued that it was "common sense" for the government to relocate some of the licenses offered, which could allow a resort where the casino was the nucleus to a larger entertainment and leisure complex.
Lord McNally said: "I believe some of the benefits, which would have come from a resort casino, could still be won by Blackpool, by attracting willing casino investors.
They would operate not just a standalone casino operation but a resort casino, which would operate as the nucleus of an entertainment centre, a retail centre, a leisure centre and a restaurant centre.”
In January 2007 Manchester was chosen over Blackpool as the location for Britain's first super casino with a license for up to 1,250 unlimited jackpot gaming machines. However last year the Prime Minister Gordon Brown made the decision not to go ahead with the plans. Other cities across the UK in contention for having the casino included London, Sheffield and Cardiff.
While, there will be no super casino offering prizes of up to £1 million and more than 1,000 machines to play, there is apparently still every chance that a smaller development could occur and this is what Lord McNally is hoping will happen in Blackpool.
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