COUNCIL IN CASINO TALKS

Swansea Council leaders have agreed the next step in securing a new breed of super-casino for the city.Swansea was one of 17 cities to be awarded one of the new gambling licences during a wide-ranging government consultation.

However, a legal challenge has held up the process and the House of Lords refused to back it.

A second attempt to get the bill passed is expected soon and cabinet members at Swansea Council have now taken the next step in the process, which means casino companies will be able to bid for the licence when that happens.

Council leader Chris Holley said: "There has already been considerable interest in Swansea expressed by operators, and this is why it is important to have processes in place to determine applications if the small casino licence gets the go-ahead."

The new licence for a so-called small casino will mean bigger jackpots, more machines and a bookmaking service under one roof.

Councillor Holley added: "We need to establish what benefits people think such a development would bring and what the social and economic impact of an application would be."

2007-07-09