Super-casino hearings to be held

PUBLIC hearings are to take place into the merits of eight shortlisted venues bidding to host the UK's first Las Vegas-style super-casino, it was announced yesterday.

The examinations will start from next week for eight areas hoping to launch the giant gambling venue, the Casino Advisory Panel has said.

A provisional shortlist of Glasgow, Blackpool, Wembley, Cardiff, the Millennium Dome, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sheffield was announced in May.

Speaking in the meetings is by invitation only and there will be a limited number of places for the media and the public to observe proceedings. There will also be no question and answer sessions.

Only one super-casino is initially being permitted under the terms of the Gambling Act.

The Millennium Dome was the shortlist front-runner in the first round of judging released in July, coming just ahead of Glasgow and Blackpool.

The panel will announce the successful super-casino bid by the end of this year.

A shortlist of 31 proposals for large and small casinos was also released in May. Under the Gambling Act, eight large and eight small casinos will be given permission to operate.

The hearing for Glasgow will be held on 4 September.