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| Nelson McCausland says casino ban will not be removed | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Casinos will remain banned in Northern Ireland under legislation due to go before the assembly next year, the social development minister has said. | |
| Nelson McCausland was dismissive of a plan by the Rank Group for a casino in Belfast, after they briefed city councillors on Tuesday evening. | |
| The minister said Rank had not been in contact with his department. | |
| He added that the group did not make a submission to a lengthy review of local gambling laws last year. | |
| "I'm not quite sure what their thinking is, but it was surprising that they didn't contribute to the discussion," Mr McCausland said. | |
| "It's a bit late now in the day to come along because we are about to take a package of proposals to the executive and to the assembly and I want to go to the assembly with the changes in the gambling legislation next year." | |
| Alderman Tom Ekin, who is the chairman of the council's licensing committee, said councillors were slightly apprehensive about the possibility of "problem gambling". | |
| 'Suitably sceptical' | |
| "We were looking for more information and more information will be provided over time. | |
| "At the moment, in principle, we were neither for it nor against it. | |
| "We were just saying, 'you have told us your story, we are suitably sceptical'." | |
| Mr Ekin said there were probably more dangers arising from "opportunities to gamble from home and on television." | |
| "That is more dangerous than a well-run casino that has got the variety of things that were referred to such as restaurants, bowling alleys, bars, theatres and so on. | |
| The proposal for Northern Ireland's first casino was outlined to parties on Belfast City Council. | |
| It has been asked to back the proposal from the Rank Group, which operates 55 casinos in Britain, although it would require a change in the law. | |
| Casinos are illegal in Northern Ireland but the firm has produced a "prototype model specifically for Belfast". | Casinos are illegal in Northern Ireland but the firm has produced a "prototype model specifically for Belfast". |
| A "strictly regulated and monitored gaming operation" would anchor the venue. | A "strictly regulated and monitored gaming operation" would anchor the venue. |
| The plan would also involve a cinema and restaurants. | The plan would also involve a cinema and restaurants. |
| Briefed | Briefed |
| A council development site at the north foreshore of Belfast Lough has been mentioned as one possible location. | A council development site at the north foreshore of Belfast Lough has been mentioned as one possible location. |
| Rank briefed members of the council's development committee on Tuesday evening. | Rank briefed members of the council's development committee on Tuesday evening. |
| In a statement, it said it wanted to determine whether "there is an appetite for a change in legislation". | In a statement, it said it wanted to determine whether "there is an appetite for a change in legislation". |
| The company said 200 jobs could be created. | The company said 200 jobs could be created. |
| Legislation to update gambling laws in Northern Ireland is due to go before the assembly next year. | Legislation to update gambling laws in Northern Ireland is due to go before the assembly next year. |
| But the Department of Social Development has previously ruled out allowing casinos. | But the Department of Social Development has previously ruled out allowing casinos. |
| "It is not something the minister (DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland) was prepared to move towards," an official told a Stormont committee in February 2013. | "It is not something the minister (DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland) was prepared to move towards," an official told a Stormont committee in February 2013. |
| Rank runs its casinos in Great Britain through a subsidiary, Grosvenor Casinos, and also operates bingo venues. | Rank runs its casinos in Great Britain through a subsidiary, Grosvenor Casinos, and also operates bingo venues. |
| According to its website, it generates annual revenues of £625m. | According to its website, it generates annual revenues of £625m. |
| One of its board members is Richard Needham, a former Northern Ireland Office minister. | One of its board members is Richard Needham, a former Northern Ireland Office minister. |