Conservatives dash hopes for UK Super Casinos

The gaming industry’s hopes for more UK Super Casinos are to be dashed by the Conservative Party, according to reports in the Financial Times. The Conservatives are set to rule out their support for proposals by the government to increase the number of Las Vegas style Super Casinos allowed under the Gambling Act 2005.
The shadow secretary, Mr Hugo Swire MP has sent out a letter to all Tory MP’s to oppose any move to allow more Super UK Casinos.
Outlining concern over the proposals Mr Swire said:
“there are still hardly any details about how this legislation will be implemented, despite the potential effect it could have on society.”
The anti-casino stance of the party may come as something of a surprise given the number of Tory-led councils that have submitted applications for the one regional casino which is currently allowed under the Gambling Act 2005.
Tory-led councils like Coventry have even called upon the party to push for more super casinos to be allowed, but that no longer looks likely, with Swire saying: “It is essential that we highlight our concerns about the government's failings, and ensure that we do not see a repeat of the implementation of the licensing laws which had a disastrous effect on many local authorities.
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Casino Adverts on UK TV

The UK gaming commission is to assess public opinion on relaxing a 40 year rule that stops Casinos, bingo halls and most other betting and gambling products from advertising on UK TV and radio, with the exception of the national lottery.
A new code has been drawn up by the Advertising Standards Agency and the Gambling Commission, which would see the 40 year old rules relaxed to allow some adverts, this would be subject to very stringent rules about realism and social responsibility.
The new code will now be put to the British public opinion and there input about the proposed changes, but it is expected to take effect by September 2007, when the Gambling Act 2005 comes into effect.

Coventry goes for UK Super Casino

The UK government has been urged to choose Coventry as the site for the UK's first Super Casino, this comes only two days after Peugeot announced it was to close its Ryton plant near the city with the loss of 2,300 jobs.
Coventry City Council said a £113m scheme at the Ricoh Arena already included a plan for a small casino.
That is being built under existing laws but there is land available for a much bigger casino complex.
Council Leader, Mr Ken Taylor said "The experience of Coventry shows that, in the right context and properly managed, a regional casino can provide a step-change in the level and quality of regeneration to a whole region. Coventry and other areas of the country have a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a step change in their local economies."
He said the city was the "obvious choice" for the pilot as it had the most advanced casino site in the UK and was the only city capable of opening a regional complex in 2007.
John McGuigan, director of regeneration at the council, said: "Coventry's economy has never been as strong as it is at the moment. There is £6.5bn of investment coming into the city at the moment.
"The economy is changing. Thirty years ago, 55% of the people in this city worked in manufacturing and that's now down to 18%. Our future is in looking forward as opposed to backwards."
Production at the PSA Peugeot-Citroen plant in Ryton is due to end in July 2007, with the loss of 2,300 jobs.
Some 27 councils are bidding for the chance to host the Uk's first Las Vegas style Super Casino.

World record online UK Bingo payout

A Lady from Luton UK, has won the biggest Online UK Bingo prize in history, winning a massive £162,701.97, Special Needs School driver Mrs Jo Collins aged 53, had only been playing Online Bingo for five days then she won the life changing prize.
Mrs Collins said: I was at my daughter’s house when I realised I’d won a big prize. We just went mad and danced around. When I told my husband he thought I’d won £1600. You should have heard him when I explained that I had won over £160,000.
Mother of three and grandmother of ten said she plans to use the money to pay off her mortgage and car, and then to go and visit old friends in Australia. But Mrs Collins maintained that she would keep her driving job for the Special Needs kids rely on people like me to get them to school.
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Plymouth Lady Wins Big Time

Plymouth Lady wins big time at the Roxy Palace Online Casino, Mrs Amanda R from Plymouth England has become one of the highest online gaming jackpot winners in UK history after winning $1,427,369.74 on the great progressive Slot machine game King Cashalot at Roxy Palace Online Casino.
Amazingly Amanda had only wagered a total $3.90 on the slot before she won.
A RoxyPalace.com Spokesperson from the Roxy said 'We are delighted with this huge jackpot win. Roxy Palace has always tried to give players exceptional value and entertainment as well as great customer service. We are extremely happy that our players can have the opportunity of winning such huge amounts.'
King Cashalot is part of the Microgaming network and Roger Raatgever, CEO of Microgaming said, 'We are delighted to hear that Jackpot Madness has created yet another overnight millionaire – our eighth in three years, and I would like to take this opportunity to publicly pass on our congratulations to Amanda.”
Mr Raatgever added, “Over the last three years, our progressive has paid out a total of $196m in winnings, which serves as testament to just how popular and successful it has become.'
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32red club sponsors of Aston Villa FC

32red.com have become the latest high profile gambling organisation to get involved in football team sponsorship, after they penned a deal with Aston Villa FC.
32 Red have agreed to sponsor Aston Villa FC for two years, paying them an undisclosed sum believed to be in the six-figure area for each season. Villa could then receive extra money depending on other factors.
The deal makes 32 Red the second gambling firm to sponsor a premiership team after 888.com sponsorship with Middlesbrough FC.

UK Super Casinos deadline has passed

68 local authorities have been successful in their efforts to submit a bid for a new the new UK Super Casino.
The deadline has now passed for bids to be handed in, but already there are four bids for each available license in all 17 bids will be successful, one of which will be granted a license to develop and operate a new Las-Vegas style UK Super Casino.
The Casino Advisory Panel will now take two months to consider each of the bids before passing on their recommendations to the Secretary of State for Culture, Tessa Jowell, whose department will make the final decision and be responsible for issuing the licenses.
Stephen Crow who is chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel Professor spoke in public about the bid process yesterday and said, These proposals represent a lot of hard work by the people that have prepared them, They all deserve nothing less than fair and thorough examination.

Online gambling shares soare

Shares in online gambling companies soared today after a bad day in the US congress for the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.
Republican Senator Bob Goodlatte’s attempt to outlaw certain types of online gambling, including online casinos, was looking badly damaged after yesterday’s debate in the House of Representatives.
It appeared that confusion over the bill’s carve outs appears to have been the major problem, causing industry experts to predict that the gambling bill is unlikely to be passed, its poor reception had an immediate effect on the gambling stock markets, which saw shares in some companies jump by as much as 11 percent in a single day.
There is still the Kyl Bill to come, but no second debate was scheduled on Goodlatte’s Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which is usually a bad sign for a piece of pending legislation.

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Bournemouth bids for Super Casino

A bid for a new Super Casino licence for a sea side resort town of Bounemouth in Dorset has been submitted to the government.
Bournemouth's bid for one of the eight new Super Casino licences will now be considered by an government advisory panel.
The decision to apply for the licence was taken even though two thirds of the borough's own citizens panel were said to be against it.
If the Bournemouth's application is successful a casino with 40 gaming tables and 150 machines could be approved next year.
Bournemouth Borough Council said the casino would be a major new tourist attraction for the area, a boost to the economy, could attract up to 750,000 visitors per year and create up to 900 new jobs.
As well as the casino, the new development would also include restaurants, children's attractions, free internet and iPod connections and other services.
A council spokesman said, We're keen to ensure the town realises all the associated regeneration benefits of one of the first UK's Super Casinos. The bid also highlights the fact that, despite Bournemouth being the UK's top holiday destination, new attractions are essential to keep people returning and to attract new visitors."