CASINO456

The building of a £6m ‘Racino’ – race course and casino could start as soon as this summer (August) in Whitley in the UK. Stadia UK is betting on it happening as they put in an application for permission to renew, expand and relocate the Reading speedway and greyhound stadium. This was done shortly before their previous permission expired. Apparently the project has been delayed due to the recession and has been on the cards since the Smallmead stadium was closed in October of 2008.

Delays from the planning stages have been more complex than was initially anticipated, but now the company is keen to get on with the work. The typical build-time would take about 12 month s and includes a new stadium, a casino, landscaping, car park and free-standing kennels.

In the same breath, as part of an ongoing struggle against problem gambling, Jonathan Parke, a senior lecturer at the Centre for the Study of Gambling – University of Salford; suggested that UK casinos should consider being created South African style. He felt that offering visitors various entertainment options so they may socialise in a more comfortable atmosphere would be a good solution. The government’s decision to only allow one of these complexes in the UK also recently failed.

In the meantime Mecca (The Rank Group) had an unaccountably good year in 2010 and is planning an multi-million pound investment. Once again in the news, their record breaking profits have decided them to spend more than £11,000,000 in the Birmingham area as part of a huge investment project which will take place in 2011. These plans also include a brand new £15 million casino in Oldbury as well as a complete new-look Mecca Bingo Club in Kingstanding, and this is exciting news. We seem to only hear of land bingo clubs closing down in Great Britain, so the proof that a brand new club is being built is also proof that bingo is alive and still doing well. These venues are destined to attract further tourism to the area as well as provide up to 70 new jobs.

The grand opening of the new G-Casino took place on Thursday, 25th February 2011 in Walsall. This, together with the clubs in Wednesbury, Bilston, Oldbury, West Bromwich and Brierley Hill ensures that Rank Group becomes one of the most well-known Brands in the UK. The new G-Casino developments and Mecca Bingo are proving to be tough to beat, they provide amenities, services and facilities of the very highest standard and are developing more and more sophisticated systems.  They also have a deep understanding of how to engage with their customers and rival gaming concerns just don’t seem to get it in the same way. Rank is without a doubt fast becoming one of the most important gaming providers in the country and we are just waiting to see when they will reach that No 1 spot. With Gala Coral in the throes of an imminent sale and splitting of divisions, this will weaken its footprint in the UK. Mecca is merely waiting in the spotlight to fill this position.