Resort's Tie To Tourism Key To Casino Backing
Indicators reflecting deprivation, reliance on tourism and local support helped persuade regional bosses Blackpool would be the best location for a Las Vegas-style casino in the North West.
The resort beat off rivals including Manchester, Liverpool, Salford, Trafford, Southport and St Helens when it came to winning the backing of the influential North West Development Agency (NWDA) in its bid to build the UK's first regional casino.
It followed the publication of the findings of its Casinos Demand Study carried out by Salford-based Pion Economics in partnership with the Government Office for the North West and the North West Regional Assembly.
Blackpool, which wants to build a regional casino on the old Central Station site overlooking the Promenade, faces competition from rival schemes including plans to develop a site adjacent to the City of Manchester stadium, a development alongside Old Trafford football ground, redevelopment of the Salford Reds rugby league stadium, and development of Liverpool's waterfront.
But the study concluded the benefits of building a large-scale casino would be greater in Blackpool than any of these other locations.
It found:
Tourism constituted more than a quarter of Blackpool's economy, five times higher than in any other area.
Although Manchester and Liverpool scored higher on the deprivation indices with around 60 per cent of the population living in deprived areas, Blackpool had more than a quarter of its population also suffering deprivation, demonstrating the need for action.
The economic impact assessment revealed around 2,450 jobs would be created in Blackpool, plus another 13,950 regionally with the creation of one regional and one large casino in Blackpool.
Blackpool also scored over Manchester because the resort had fewer options when it comes to regeneration, compared to Manchester where tourism was an important, but not a dominant, component.
The study concludes: "There are likely to exist few, if any other venues, within the UK that present a configuration of conditions more suited to testing the regeneration potential of regional casino development."
Coun Eddie Collett, Blackpool Council's portfolio holder for tourism and regeneration, welcomed the report and said he hoped the Government would listen to its findings when it comes to allocating the first licence for a regional casino. He said: "All of the information which comes out officially, like this report, inches the decision in our direction. The NWDA is an important voice in the debate and we're confident that the Government will listen to its findings."
It is hoped the Government will select its one chosen pilot area by the end of 2006, or early 2007.
Each region interested will have to state its case. Blackpool is seen by many in the industry as favourite, together with London's Millennium Dome.
More than 20 companies – including the likes of gambling big hitters London Clubs International, Hilton and Las Vegas Sands – have all expressed an interest in developing a casino in Blackpool.
NWRA Chairman John Joyce, said he believed the 68-page study is an important document and one which showed the North West was well placed to take advantage of the changes brought in through this year's Gambling Bill. He said: "The North West is in a strong position to secure the single regional casino pilot. This study provides a sound basis for putting forward a regionally agreed position. It is important that the North West puts the best case to government to ensure that the promised regeneration benefits and economic rewards are delivered. The assembly will continue to work with its regional and sub-regional partners to develop policies in the Regional Spatial Strategy which support sustainable economic development for North West communities."
