| Sixteen regional casinos given green light |
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| Wednesday, 27 February 2008 | |
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The go ahead has been given to build 16 smaller regional casinos as the plans for a supercasino in Manchester was finally killed off. The 16 locations announced by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham are Great Yarmouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton, Bath and North East Somerset, Wigtown licensing area in Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton. Burnham also indicated that he would prevent any casino from opening for 24 hours. "I believe it is a good principle that all casinos are subject to a period of closure every day, when individuals are required to leave the premises.
Currently, casinos are prevented from offering gambling over 24 hours unless they apply to local authorities for an extension. But I wish to rule out the possibility that some may remain open round the clock by closing their doors for at least six hours." |
