Manchester Pulls Upset and Wins UK Super Casino Bid

UNITED KINGDOM – As reported by the Financial Times: "Manchester has won the race to host the UK’s first Las Vegas-style casino, winning the approval of a government-appointed panel
Artist's rendering of the Manchester complex where the UK's only super casino will be built.  over rivals Blackpool, Greenwich, Glasgow, Cardiff, Sheffield and Newcastle.

"The surprise announcement by the Casino Advisory Panel on Tuesday promises an unprecedented regeneration of the north-west city, which staged the Commonwealth Games in 2002.

"Manchester’s pitch for a casino was based on having an impressive track record of delivering big projects and is a coup for Sir Howard Bernstein, the city council’s chief executive.

"…Manchester was undeterred by the support of the north-west regional development agency for Blackpool’s bid. Manchester cast doubt on Blackpool’s economic case and argued that its regeneration needs were greater.

"The panel said all the proposals shortlisted presented their own particular and compelling strengths.

"'We were, however, particularly impressed by Manchester’s proposal, which in our view offers great promise. We found that the proposal had a unique formula to offer which served to set it apart from the others presented to us, in terms of the full range of our specific remitted criteria of best test of social impact, regeneration need and benefits and willingness to license.

"'Manchester represents a good place to test social impact, and the council’s consultations with other local authorities and relevant bodies gave us confidence on that. Manchester has a catchment area for a casino second only to that of London, and it is an area in need of regeneration at least as much as any of the others we observed – indeed, the city has the greatest need in terms of multiple deprivation of all the proposals that were before us.

"'We are impressed that the council’s plan has been developed, and is proposed to be taken forward, in close consultation with the communities that would benefit from it, and note in addition that Manchester is one of England’s eight ‘Core Cities’ which Government policy sees as drivers of national and regional economic growth.

"'In our view, the proposal presents the most complete package in terms of meeting our remitted criteria.'

"Manchester has already said Kerzner International is its preferred casino partner but officials say no contract has been agreed.

"The decision is a huge blow to the favourites, Greenwich and Blackpool. Greenwich’s bid partner was Anschutz Entertainment Group, which bought the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, now called the 02 Centre. AEG, owned by US billionaire and entertainment mogul Philip Anchutz, has already said it would take legal action against the government if it lost the bid.

"…Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, will tell parliament on Tuesday afternoon how plans for the super casino will proceed. The panel’s recommendation will be considered by her Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and the government will decide whether to go along with the panel’s recommendation, although a rejection of Manchester would be inconceivable.

"MPs will vote on the government’s preferred choice, as well as the location of eight new large and eight smaller casinos around the UK. The CAP on Tuesday recommended that large casinos should be licensed at Great Yarmouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton.