Casino News

Supercasino compensation 'unlikely'

2008-03-17 13:56:18

The chances of Manchester city council being reimbursed for the cost of its supercasino bid are slim, according to one journalist.

Writing in his Manchester Evening News blog, David Ottewell quoted Labour MP John Healy as suggesting any compensation is unlikely - despite the minister in charge Hazel Blears being the MP for nearby Salford.

"The decision to apply to the Casino Advisory Panel was a matter for the local authorities concerned," Mr Healy said.

Conservative MP Bob Neill had previously asked if Ms Blears was going to "allocate funding to Manchester city council for costs incurred in relation to preparation for the regional casino" in a speech to the House of Commons.

The campaign to win the supercasino bid reportedly cost £250,000 - a sum of money which would likely not have been spent had the council been aware of the government's intention not to let the Las Vegas-style facility go ahead.