Tussauds Looking For International Partner

Leisure giant Tussauds Group has unveiled ambitions to gamble on deregulation of the UK casino industry.

Tussauds, owned by private equity company Charterhouse Development Capital, is talking to major international gaming operators about building casinos next to its theme parks.

The company owns approximately 1,700 acres, of which only half is being used. But the move could be controversial as the venues are major attractions for children.

Tussauds Group chief executive Peter Phillipson said: "You don't have to be a genius to fathom that Thorpe Park in Surrey is a great site for a mega-destination casino. It's on the M25, near several airports and has 22m people just two hours drive away."

The abolition of the law restricting casinos to 'permitted areas' would, of course, allow casinos to be developed anywhere in the country. The area surrounding Thorpe Park comprises fields and lakes that can easily be drained and built on, or used for car parking.

Phillipson added: "We have no experience of running casinos and we wouldn't want to put ourselves through the very tortuous licensing process. It makes sense for us to take on a partner and, not surprisingly there is a lot of interest in our sites."