Lords committee questions CAP over super-casino decision

2007-03-14 17:13:31

A House of Lords committee has questioned Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) chairman Professor Stephen Crow over the organisation's decision to award the UK's sole super-casino to Manchester.

The choice surprised many when it was announced in March, with the majority of observers believing that either Blackpool or London would be the destinations of choice.

Since the decision critics have claimed that levels of unemployment in the Manchester district chosen to host the casino indicate that social problems could develop further once the venue opens.

But Professor Crow defended the decision, saying that it remained a better choice than Blackpool.

"A casino in a major city will not only cater for people in that city, but bring people in. Manchester is a very large tourist destination and brings people in from all over the world. It is not in our judgement likely that Blackpool would bring in so many people from all over the world," he told the committee.

"It's important people make a clear intention to go to the casino and not accidentally find themselves in one…I have no doubt that in a place the size of east Manchester a site could be found where ambient gambling will not be a problem," he added.



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