Devon Resort Hosts New Casinos Meeting

The impact of 16 new Casinos planned for Britain is being discussed at a national conference in Devon.

Council officers from 11 local authorities across the county are meeting in Torquay.

The meeting was organised by the Torbay Development Agency to share ideas and examples of best practice when it comes to building and regulating casinos.

Torbay Council is currently looking for a suitable site for its approved initial plans for a casino.

Delegates will hear from Professor Peter Collings, a gambling expert from the University of Salford who has studied casinos around the world.

The announcement in January that Torbay had won its bid for a casino had a mixed reception, with local MP Adrian Sanders claiming it would only offer an increase in crime and gambling addiction, in exchange for a small increase in low-value jobs.

But Torbay's mayor, Nick Bye, and the Torbay Development Agency both welcomed the decision, saying a casino could be the key to developing the area, bringing visitors, jobs and investment to the resort.