Swansea To Get 'Old-Style' Casino

Swansea will have its fourth casino next year after approval was given yesterday for plans to set up an "old-style" gaming attraction in the city. Lanes Casino will open opposite the old police station in Orchard Street in the city centre after staving off an objection from a rival operator.

Grosvenor Casino, which on Wednesday was given the go-ahead to move from its existing High Street premises into the old Mecca bingo site at the St David's Centre, tried to stop Lanes from getting a licence.

Grosvenor, which earlier this year also got consent to operate alongside the bingo hall in Carmarthen Road, objected on the grounds that there was no demand for another casino and that the chosen Lanes building was not up to standard.

But the city's betting and gaming licensing committee thought otherwise and granted the application.

Committee chairman Piers Walters said: "We think it will meet the demand for a small, intimate, luxurious casino of the old style.''

Lanes director Ray Tilley said afterwards: "We think common sense has prevailed and that a local operator should be able to run a casino like this. We think there is a demand for it."

Lanes is expected to open in around 12 months' time when it could be joined by three other new casinos.

Grosvenor's plans allow for its two new venues to start up next year, while Casino giant Aspers is also due to open in Salubrious Place.

A fifth casino could also be rolling the dice in Swansea as part of the leisure complex included in the flagship SA1 development being put together by the WDA and the council.

No announcement has been made on progress so far.