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Manchester wins super-casino race Manchester wins super-casino race
(20 minutes later)
Manchester has been chosen as the surprise location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino.Manchester has been chosen as the surprise location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino.
The decision is a blow for Blackpool and London's former Millennium Dome who were the bookmakers' favourites. The decision is a blow for Blackpool and London's former Millennium Dome which were the bookmakers' favourites.
The licence is to build a venue for up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot fruit machines. The licence will allow Manchester to build a venue for up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot gaming machines.
Large casino licences were granted to Great Yarmouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton. Licences for smaller casinos were granted to Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton.
Smaller casino licences were granted to Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton. The Casino Advisory Panel also granted licences for the smallest type of casino to Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton.
There were seventeen licences granted in total by the independent Casino Advisory Panel
Manchester was a 16-1 outsider at the bookmakers to be selected as a test-bed for the UK's first regional "resort" casino.Manchester was a 16-1 outsider at the bookmakers to be selected as a test-bed for the UK's first regional "resort" casino.
'Regeneration''Regeneration'
There has been speculation that more super-casino licences might be awarded in future by ministers.There has been speculation that more super-casino licences might be awarded in future by ministers.
But the BBC understands that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will tell MPs later that there will definitely be no more awarded this Parliament.But the BBC understands that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will tell MPs later that there will definitely be no more awarded this Parliament.
Stephen Crow, chairman of the independent Casino Advisory Panel, said he had been "won over by how well the Manchester proposal in particular delivered against the full range of requirements set out in the criteria against which the judgments were made". Stephen Crow, chairman of the independent Casino Advisory Panel, said Manchester had been chosen because of its "very thorough consultation" with the local community and "the way it dealt with questions of problem gambling". "Manchester has a catchments 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.
Manchester also represented a good place to test the social impact of a super-casino, and "the council's consultations with other local authorities and relevant bodies gave us confidence on that", added Prof Crow. "Indeed, the city has the greatest need in terms of multiple deprivation of all the proposals that were before us," Prof Crow said in a statement.
"Manchester has a catchments 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. He has insisted political rows surrounding the bid process "did not take any part in our consideration".
"Indeed, the city has the greatest need in terms of multiple deprivation of all the proposals that were before us," said Professor Crow. The Dome bid attracted controversy last year when it emerged Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and some of his civil servants had stayed at owner Philip Anschutz's US ranch, and not declared the visit until 11 months later.
Manchester's bid promised the "highest standards of social responsibility", with an independent Community Trust overseeing its workings. "I am pleased to say we have had no political pressure whatsoever," Prof Crow told BBC News 24.
'Track record' He said he was confident the panel's decision was "watertight" if it came to a legal challenge from any of the losing bidders.
Bid organisers said it would regenerate a poor area of east Manchester, promising a £265m investment and 2,700 direct and indirect jobs in one of the most deprived parts of the country. Vote
The bid also boasted an "unrivalled track record" in delivering major regeneration schemes that have transformed deprived areas of the city in the past. The winning bid organisers said it would regenerate a poor area of east Manchester, promising a £265m investment and 2,700 direct and indirect jobs in one of the most deprived parts of the country.
The casino would be based at Sportcity in the Beswick area of Manchester, close to the City of Manchester Stadium, now used by Manchester City FC and built for the Commonwealth Games.The casino would be based at Sportcity in the Beswick area of Manchester, close to the City of Manchester Stadium, now used by Manchester City FC and built for the Commonwealth Games.
The bid was backed by the city council and regeneration quango New East Manchester. The proposed site will also contain an entertainment complex with a range of facilities such as a multi-purpose arena, a swimming pool, an urban sports venue, restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a hotel.
The proposed regional casino site will also contain an entertainment complex with a range of facilities such as a multi-purpose arena, a swimming pool, an urban sports venue, restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a hotel.
Blackpool 'disappointed'
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will consider the Casino Panel proposals before putting her recommendations to Parliament for a vote.Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will consider the Casino Panel proposals before putting her recommendations to Parliament for a vote.
Councillor Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council said: "This is fantastic news for Manchester, and the region. Blackpool 'disappointed'
Councillor Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "This is fantastic news for Manchester, and the region.
"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.""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."
Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, the urban regeneration company that worked on the town's bid, said: "I'm very disappointed indeed at the outcome, Blackpool's future was something built around our plan.Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, the urban regeneration company that worked on the town's bid, said: "I'm very disappointed indeed at the outcome, Blackpool's future was something built around our plan.
"We believe the case that we put forward was a compelling one."We believe the case that we put forward was a compelling one.
"We certainly won't be taking this as an end result. We still want to see change here."We certainly won't be taking this as an end result. We still want to see change here.
"I'm very surprised but anything is a possibility. We still have a plan that was good and right yesterday and is good and right today despite the findings of the advisory panel.""I'm very surprised but anything is a possibility. We still have a plan that was good and right yesterday and is good and right today despite the findings of the advisory panel."