UK casino Hits The Jackpot After Being Granted Licence
Plans for a Swansea casino which will create 500 jobs have moved closer to fruition with the granting of a gaming licence for the new development. Swansea magistrates have given their approval for a gaming licence for the Aspinalls Casino Group's proposed regional UK casino at Brunswick Mansford's pounds 30m Salubrious Place development off Wind Street, Swansea.
The 100,000sq ft complex promises to create 500 jobs and will be among the first in Britain of a series of new regional casinos the Government is committed to licensing under a revamp of the gaming laws.
Aspinalls, which is one of the UK's leading casino operators with outlets worldwide, plans to open 12 similar casinos throughout the UK which will be branded 'Aspers', the nickname of casino owner Damian Aspinall's father and casino entrepreneur John Aspinall.
The Aspinalls casino being planned for the Salubrious Place development will offer gaming rooms, restaurants and an auditorium capable of holding up to 400 people.
The gaming areas will feature Las Vegas-style electronic gaming and slot machines with some prizes on offer reaching pounds 1m.
"We're delighted that the licence committee has granted permission for this exciting new development," said the managing director of Aspinalls, James Osborne. "We can now fulfil our goal of creating a unique leisure experience for Swansea. This is all about entertainment and providing people with a fantastic experience and a fun night out. We want to be the night out in Swansea for all age groups and all pockets, with the emphasis on enjoyment and the added benefit of being able to leave with a jackpot that could buy the holiday of a lifetime or even a brand new car."
The creation of 500 jobs at the development would make Aspinalls one of Swansea's largest employers.
The company has pledged to recruit locally wherever possible and has promised to establish a training academy in the city to train staff ahead of its opening.
The training facility will also act as a springboard for Aspinalls' other future casino sites around the UK.
Richard Hayward, of Brunswick Mansford, which is developing the site, said, "The future of Swansea's leisure industry has never been more promising. Aside from the massive job creation, Aspinalls is planning to create a venue that is certain to elevate the city centre's nightlife above the perceived image of pubs and clubs. We have maintained a tight rein on the tenant mix to ensure that Salubrious Place becomes the region's landmark leisure destination. We will be making further announcements over the coming weeks which will illustrate the calibre of tenants being attracted to the development."
Work on the Aspers casino is set to start within a matter of weeks. It is anticipated that the UK casino will open its doors in 2006.
