This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6310955.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Cardiff loses 'super casino' bid Mixed fortunes over casino bids
(about 2 hours later)
Cardiff has lost a bid to be chosen for the site of the UK's first so-called "super casino", offering 24-hour Las Vegas-style gambling. There has been mixed fortunes for Cardiff and Swansea over the choice to be the location for Britain's first Las Vegas-style super casino.
Cardiff lost its bid to be chosen for the site of the huge casino" offering 24-hour Las Vegas-style gambling.
But Swansea lands one of the 16 smaller casinos offering jackpots of up to £4,000.But Swansea lands one of the 16 smaller casinos offering jackpots of up to £4,000.
Cardiff had bid against Blackpool, London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester for the bigger licence. Cardiff was up against Blackpool, London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield with Manchester the surprise winner.
In a surprise announcement, favourites Blackpool and London lost out to Manchester's winning bid. Refusing to admit defeat, Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman has said the city will continue its fight to build the UK's first regional casino at the sports village in the bay.
The Welsh capital had said it needed the casino to finish its waterfront sports village in time for the 2012 Olympics. A regional casino would enable Cardiff to continue to develop its profile as a leading European city with worldwide attractions and a strong developing economy Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael
The decision was made by the Casino Advisory Panel, made up of five members including experts in planning and regeneration, and led by Professor Stephen Crowe, of Cardiff University's School of Urban and Regional Planning. "A regional casino would enable Cardiff to continue to develop its profile as a leading European city with worldwide attractions and a strong developing economy."
Detrimental effects And Cardiff South and Penarth MP, Alun Michael, said: "I strongly support the casino bid and where as I think Cardiff has been an extremely strong candidate for the single location, this is not the end of the game.
Cardiff Council believed that landing the casino, with its promise of 1,500 jobs, was vital if the sports village is to be completed in time to be a host venue for the London Olympics. "A regional casino would enable Cardiff to continue to develop its profile as a leading European city with worldwide attractions and a strong developing economy."
Speaking ahead of the announcement, Nigel Howells, Cardiff Council's board executive member for sport, leisure and culture, said the casino could bring in £265m a year to the local economy. The regional casino licence would allow a minimum total customer area of 5,000 sq m and permit up to 1,250 unlimited jackpot gaming machines.
He said they had been working hard with Rhondda Cynon Taff to ensure that the skills are developed to secure what would be high quality jobs. The new licence would represent a significant new opportunity for Swansea to further broaden its growing leisure and entertainment offering Swansea council leader Chris Holley
Asked about the social and detrimental effects of gambling, Mr Howells said:? What we're looking at is to constructively address the problem. It would also permit bingo and other betting services.
"That's why one of the key items when we chose our operator was their experience with this and they have well established programmes for identifying problem gamblers." Meanwhile, in Swansea, there was more to celebrate as the city was successful in its bid to the panel for a smaller casino licence.
Prof Stephen Crowe from Cardiff leads the judging panel Council leader Chris Holley described it as "very good news".
Mr Howells also said he believed there should be more than one 'super casino' in the UK. "The new licence would represent a significant new opportunity for Swansea to further broaden its growing leisure and entertainment offering," he said.
"I think it would make sense particularly in the light of devolved government in the UK, " he said. "It will increase the vitality of the city and county and provide an extra boost to tourism."
"Wales should have a casino in my view and in order for you to properly test pilot operations it would seem sensible to have more than one location." Mr Holey added that they would be better placed to regulate gambling in the city in line with the new Gambling Act.
The panel also offered licences for eight larger casinos and eight small casinos.
Large casinos will have a minimum area of 1,000 sq m and up to 150 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000.
The small casinos will have a minimum customer area of 750 sq m, up to 80 slot machines and a jackpot of £4,000.The small casinos will have a minimum customer area of 750 sq m, up to 80 slot machines and a jackpot of £4,000.
Swansea was one of 67 local authorities in England and Wales which applied to the panel for one of those 16 venues.
The city already has a casino being built at Salubrious Place, near Wind Street, by national chain Aspinalls.