Greenwich Super Casino
Seven gambling councils have been shortlisted to fight it out for the multi-million dollar jackpot where one only will be given the right to run a ‘super casino’. These include Blackpool, Cardiff, casino Glasgow, Greenwich, casino Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. These councils stand a chance to alter their towns like never before. The winning council will have the right to unveil a gambling arena of over 100 yards (the size of a football field) with 1,250 slot machines with boundless jackpots.
Two of the major competitors in the game are the Blackpool and the Greenwich councils who are extremely keen on winning this enormous jackpot. The Blackpool council is looking forward to giving the seaside town a major facelift. Several plans are already underway for the £2.5bn, 15-year investment, to build new conference facilities, a remodeled and expanded beach, a modernized tram system and a huge new shopping centre. However this re-modification of the town greatly depends on the lading of the super casino.
The council believes that the liberalization of gambling offers great potential in the leisure industry and the casino could bring about a lot of economic benefits as well as help modernize the town and regain its tourist appeal. The town had been in a slump with the reducing tourists. If all goes as hoped, they expect tourist numbers to double and thereby triple the contribution to the economy. Their historic tower, when re-modeled, could put Blackpool on the prestigious list of 27 World Heritage Sites in the UK. The casino itself will be on the seafront and so far 22 companies have notified their interest in acquiring the license to the casino. Although the council is pitching against some big players, they feel confident that they are the people’s choice.
The Greenwich council is also hopeful to making this jackpot. If their dreams are fulfilled the O2 will transform into a true world class development that encourages a lot of commercial building and housing. Work on the O2 has already commenced with a 23,000-seat arena, where the fridges have already been installed in the corporate boxes
Other plans include shopping street with boutiques and restaurants all along and 11 vue cinemas. The council is not thinking of the possibility of not winning the jackpot for now. They are highly optimistic and are looking forward. The council looks forward to create a venue that really works for the Olympics. Its arena plans to host the basketball and gymnastics for London 2012. This will give east London the opportunity to put itself on the map and compete with other casinos in London and the West end.