Britain’s Aspers casino chain has won the right to develop a gambling and entertainment complex in the city of Milton Keynes in the country’s populous South East Midlands.
Aspers Chairman Damian Aspinall professed himself “delighted” with the city council’s decision, which was two years in the making. “We now look forward to turning our dream for Aspers MK into reality over the coming months,” he said.
The £10 million, 3,391-square-meter casino will be located on the ground floor of Xscape Milton Keynes in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, and will offer 30 table games, 150 slot machines and electronic games, poker, casual dining, a sports bar and lounge and live entertainment.
Xscape, a division of X-Leisure, features restaurants, cafés and retail shopping at the Milton Keynes location, plus a 16-screen multiplex cinema and a number of extreme activities such as rock climbing, indoor skiing and skydiving.
The casino is expected to open early in 2013 and create 250 permanent jobs. In addition, Aspers has promised to donate £500,000 a year to fund various community programs. The company also will sponsor an initiative to provide local residents with problem gambling education and assistance.
Meanwhile, the North Sea coastal town of Great Yarmouth will decide soon who will develop its large casino.
The Eastern Daily Press reports that the choice is down to two local developers: Patrick Duffy owns the town’s existing Palace Casino; Albert Jones owns the Pleasure Beach amusement park.
Great Yarmouth was one of eight towns granted a “large” casino license as defined under the Gambling Act 2005. A large casino may have up to 150 slots, given a ratio of five slots allowed per gaming table.
