Dome favourite to win casino jackpot

July 25, 2006

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MANCHESTER finished eighth in the first round of judging for Britain's first Las Vegas-style super casino.

London's Millennium Dome is the front-runner, the Casino Advisory Panel has announced.

In May, the panel announced eight possible super casino venues from a list of 27 entrants.

Entrants were then judged on a set of eight criteria, each of which attracted a possible score of 10 points.

The Dome came top with 67 points, followed by Glasgow at 66, Blackpool at 65, and Sheffield at 62. Manchester is eighth out of 27 on 57 points.

The criteria included community benefits, need for regeneration in the area, willingness to licence and unique characteristics of the bids.

Manchester scored between 7 and 9 in most categories but only scored four out of 10 for range of areas.

A spokesman stressed that the next stage of judging would start on a "level playing field," unaffected by the initial first-round scores.

Only one super casino will be allowed, with the decision expected to be announced in December.

Should the Dome become the first supercasino? Have your say.

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Dennis, Eccles (25/07/2006 at 10:30)

Hmmm. Didn't see that coming. A cynical person might say that, given the seemingly arbitrary nature of the scores in each category, and the vague nature of the categories themselves, that the decision to put this casino at the Millennium Dome has already been made this voting system is merely a charade to give the impression that other regions have a chance of winning the supercasino. (But not me, of course.)

For what it's worth, I reckon Blackpool deserves it. It's a big part of the town's regeneration plan and would bring far more benefit to that area than it would to Manchester, or certainly London.

david moseley, north west (25/07/2006 at 10:32)

Blackpool has to be the destination place to have the super casino.It is idealy placed to have such an operation and the benefits would be enormous localy for the town as a destination resort. London does not have the right infracsture and they couldnt get the dome right or find a suitable use. Blackpool is a resort crying out for this investment.

Tubby Scruff, Manchester UK (25/07/2006 at 10:41)

What a rootin tootin shock..yehaa.
After the Prescott affair it should have been removed from the bid list.
Theres something in this that doesnt quite gel in my head.

Greg, Manchester (25/07/2006 at 11:18)

What's the point in voting as we know where its going to end up, wheer everything ends up London

AC, North of London (25/07/2006 at 11:58)

London has everything, blackpool is a city with the need for regeneration. The case speaks for itself, London obviously deserves the new Casino development.

Blackpool, I feel sorry for you, the case for you to have the casino outstrips every other yet because you are a city within the UK it would never happen since we all have to base our lives around one bloated rotten city.

Redpev, Salford (25/07/2006 at 12:57)

No surprise even though the Dome was last to enter the race. But look at Wembley for a typical London project years late and 4 times over budget. What London Does not need is more of our money, they already have the olympics to regenerate an area not far from the dome, which was built to regenerate the area, it failed once so why does it get a second change, Oh i forgot its London, we norherners would not be capable of using a super casino. Guess where all teh labour for these massive projects will come from Eastern Europe being paid minimum wage and the Fat cats get richer as the prices of each project go through the roof.

James, Altrincham (25/07/2006 at 13:34)

What a surprise - London, London, London. I don't why anywhere else in the UK bothers existing. Anybody with an ounce of sense would realise that Blackpool needs it more. Greenwich has already had ??750million of taxpayers money spent on it for the Dome - so they clearly don't deserve the nation's only supercasino licence on top of that. But of course it does have one thing going for it - it's in London.

mcrgeorge, brighton (25/07/2006 at 14:05)

London. London London. Does anywhere else exist outside London? Blackpool have prepared their case well and regeneration of this faded seaside resort is well overdue. Manchester and Liverpool have both had massive injections of cash over the past few years, Blackpool needs a boost. Lancashire is becoming one of the largest populated and most well connected counties in England. Keep the investment here and in a few years we can challenge bloody London on an equal footing. London knows nowt about equality!

Ethan Retrick, Sale (25/07/2006 at 14:12)

I agree with all the comments below. Once we knew that the Dome was in the running, the others may as well have packed up and gone home. The categories looked skewed towards London and personally, I don't believe it's right for a major city to have such a venue.

Instead, as per everyone else, it should have gone to Blackpool, which is not only crying out for investment, but is already a mecca for this sort of entertainment.

What does the rest of the country need to do in order to beat of London each time and stop fighting over it's scraps?

The Dome was a disaster from the beginning, so why try and fix it now?

Sam, Manchester (25/07/2006 at 14:40)

Isn't London seeing enough of the taxpayers money in terms of the Olympics??

This is the boost that Blackpool desperately needs.

Everyone in the UK knew that the Millenium dome was a white elephant when it was being built (as well as millions over budget), it has lost money hand over fist and I feel that this is just one big cover up. You can bet somebody's pocket is being lined somewhere as a result of this stupid decision.

Addicted Internet gambler, Anywhere in the UK (25/07/2006 at 14:43)

Yet another important decision made by "faceless grey suits" or "friends of New Labour" in I wonder which city?? Whether it's casinos or what radio stations our city can have - why does the apathetic British public put up with all this London centric "cronyism, nepotism, privilege & patronage"? It's like were still stuck in the middle ages! Britain a free, liberal, modern, cosmopolitan country - what an utter lie!!

James, Manchester (25/07/2006 at 14:56)

As much as I'd love Manchester to win the Super-Casino licence, it's clear from just walking around Blackpool nowadays (it really is a dive) that Blaclpool clearly needs the regeneration more. It would be nice if the UK could have a holiday destination - however Las Vegas-style and tacky - to be proud of.

Geoff, Swansea (25/07/2006 at 15:11)

Where else but London? And the Dome? They had to make it pay some day didn't they!

John M, Rusholme (25/07/2006 at 15:16)

Well we couldn't have imagined that now could we?
John Prescott thanks a bunch! Talking of which John Prescott dressed as a cowbot riding round a ranch-my sympathy goes to the horse!

Steve, Manc (25/07/2006 at 17:58)

I worked in Melbourne Casino (1 time largest Casino in the world with close to 300 tables) for almost 5 years as a Dealer and have seen what one of these "Super" casinos can to do a city and its people - I recently read that a serious crime currently takes place there every 8 minutes. Now I have moved to Manchester and love visiting Blackpool - I am happy for London to have it

colin howard, buriram thailand (26/07/2006 at 08:30)

howdy all,what a rootin tootin surprise, nearly fell off my mustang in shock when i read the smoke signals on holcombe hill,no doubt tharl be a big bonus for all concerned at round up time,see ya all at the ok corral.

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